Quick and Easy Shrimp Creole.... and the Saints Opener

It is 5PM on the NFL Season Opening Night with my New Orleans Saints playing the Minnesota Vikings.  The city is electric so want to get out into the middle of it as fast as I can but do not want to eat out so I had to ask...

"What do you cook when you need something quick, easy, and healthy when you only have a short time to prepare?"  

Shrimp Creole.  Shrimp Creole is Shrimp served in a spicy and kind of chunky tomato sauce served over rice.  It cooks in about 30 minutes) and requires minimal prep.  If you do not have shrimp on hand, you can use chicken or crawfish but be sure to adjust the cooking time to ensure your protein gets cooked all the way through without overcooking.  

Ingredients:

2 tbsp Olive Oil

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 medium yellow onion chopped

1 medium green pepper chopped

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium sized can of chopped or crushed tomato

1 lb raw, medium to large size, shelled Shrimp

2 bay leaves

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce (optional)

2 tsp of creole seasoning blend or season to taste

BIG EASY TIP: if you do not have Creole Seasoning in your grocery,  you can make it and keep it handy.  It is just salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne, oregano and thyme. 2 tsps of the first 3 and 1 tsp of the second 3) The store bought ones also include other items like onion powder, garlic powder but since I am using those in this recipe, no need to add them in powder form)

 Heat the Olive Oil in a medium sized saute pan til hot,  add the celery, onion, garlic and green pepper and cook on medium heat until vegetables are soft.  Stir in the tomato and add the creole seasoning blend and bay leaves... once cooked down or about 10-15 minutes,  you can add the raw shrimp.  Cover and simmer until the Shrimp are opaque. 

If you start your rice about the same time as you start the Shrimp Creole, they finish right about the same time 

Serve over Rice.