Description
This vibrant and flavorful Spicy Cajun Shrimp recipe combines tender shrimp simmered in a rich blend of tomato sauce, Cajun spices, and a mix of aromatic vegetables. Perfectly balanced with a spicy kick from jalapenos and hot sauce, this dish is quick to prepare and ideal for serving with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped (use bell peppers for a milder version)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning blend (see recipe notes)
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Hot sauce to taste (Crystal preferably, or similar, about 2-3 tablespoons)
- 1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce (Sriracha is good here)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
- Juice from 1 lemon
For Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Sliced jalapenos or serrano peppers
- Sliced cherry tomatoes
- Spicy chili flakes
- Extra hot sauce
For Serving
- Crusty bread
Instructions
- Cook Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add chopped jalapeno peppers, onion, and celery, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the chopped garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add Sauces and Seasonings: Mix in the butter, tomato sauce, Cajun seasoning blend, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, hot sauce, and sweet chili sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Simmer Sauce: Bring the mixture to a quick boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer gently for 20 minutes to develop the flavors.
- Add Shrimp: Add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the sauce, ensuring they are covered. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are cooked through and opaque.
- Finish with Lemon Juice: Remove the pan from heat and stir in the fresh lemon juice to enhance the brightness of the dish.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley, sliced jalapenos or serrano peppers, cherry tomatoes, spicy chili flakes, and extra hot sauce if desired. Serve hot with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Notes
- To make the dish milder, substitute jalapeno peppers with bell peppers and reduce or omit the hot sauce.
- The Cajun seasoning blend typically includes paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, and black pepper.
- You can simmer the sauce longer than 20 minutes for a deeper flavor if time allows.
- Use fresh shrimp for best results and adjust cooking time if using frozen and thawed shrimp.
- Serving with crusty bread is ideal to soak up the flavorful sauce, but steamed rice can be a good alternative.
