Fresh Gulf Shrimp sauteed in butter and olive oil, flavored with tons of garlic, lemon, and white wine. Sounds like Shrimp Scampi? Add a touch of rich tomato flavor and traditional Creole seasonings and you have Sweet Daddy D’s Creole Shrimp Scampi. This is a simple, quick, no-angst Creole Italian recipe that will be enjoyed by the whole family.
Shrimp Scampi is a traditional Italian dish using scampi (or langoustines, small, shrimp-like crustaceans of the lobster family), traditionally prepared by sauteing the scampi in olive oil, garlic, onions and white wine. Significant numbers of Southern Italian and Sicilian immigrants entered Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries bringing with them their culinary traditions. Since scampi or langoustines were not available in New Orleans and South Louisiana they adapted fresh Gulf Shrimp for this classic seafood dish, keeping the name “scampi” to refer to the traditional process.
My interpretation adds a touch of tomato flavor and Creole seasoning to the abundance of garlic, butter, and lemon. This changes the appearance of traditional scampi recipes and deepens the flavor profile. Although not a common menu item in many Creole restaurants, I think this recipe gives a glimpse of what I refer to as Creole Italian cuisine.
If using fresh shrimp, peel and devein them. Whether using fresh or frozen shrimp, rinse the cleaned shrimp in cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Mix in 1 tablespoon of creole seasoning and set aside.
Ingredients
4 Tablespoons butter
1 large onion , diced
1 rib celery , diced
1 green bell pepper , diced
2 cloves garlic , minced
½ teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon black pepper