This is one of the best shrimp creole recipes! I looked into traditional recipes and made this version to make shrimp creole easy without sacrificing taste. I’ve made this dish many times, and each time it amazes me more! The many layers of flavor come together to make a truly wonderful dish. It takes a bit of time to develop each flavor but it is well worth it. Lets begin by outlining some of the ingredients.
Shrimp creole is a classic Louisiana dish that features shrimp simmered in a rich, tomato-based sauce. With its complex blend of spices, vegetables, and shellfish, shrimp creole makes for a satisfying main course. However, no matter how delicious the shrimp creole is on its own, the right side dishes can really take the meal to the next level.
In this article, we’ll explore 12 delicious options for what to serve with shrimp creole. Whether you want something simple like rice or potatoes, or you’re looking for a more exciting side dish, you’ll find plenty of tasty recipe ideas here. Let’s dive in!
The Basics: Rice and Bread
Two of the most classic and straightforward side dishes for shrimp creole are rice and bread Here are some specific ways to serve these basics
White Rice
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Long grain white rice like basmati or jasmine works well with the sauce in shrimp creole. The mild flavor and fluffy texture complements the spicy robust creole sauce.
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Try cooking the rice with a little butter or olive oil to add richness. You can also mix in chopped green onions, parsley, or lemon zest for extra flavor.
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For a heartier side, make cheesy rice by stirring shredded cheddar or monterey jack into the cooked rice The creaminess pairs nicely with the creole spices.
Cornbread
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A wedge of cornbread makes a perfect vehicle for sopping up the delicious sauce in shrimp creole.
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For a traditional pairing, make classic Southern cornbread with cornmeal, buttermilk, eggs, and bacon drippings.
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You can also bake cornbread muffins so each person gets their own individual portion. Add chopped peppers or scallions for a flavorful twist.
French Bread
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For an easy option, pick up a loaf of crusty french bread from the bakery. The crusty exterior and fluffy interior soaks up the creole sauce beautifully.
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Brush slices of bread with garlic butter or olive oil before toasting for extra richness.
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Or turn the bread into garlic toast by rubbing the slices with a halved garlic clove before toasting. The hit of garlic adds another layer of flavor.
Veggie Sides
Since shrimp creole already contains plenty of vegetables like the holy trinity (bell peppers, onions, and celery), you may want to pick veggie side dishes that offer something fresh and bright as a contrast. Here are some ideas:
Garden Salad
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A simple green salad is a foolproof pairing. The fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and vinaigrette cut through the richness of the shrimp creole.
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For a Louisiana-inspired salad, use mixed greens, grape tomatoes, avocado, corn, red onion, and even chopped boiled eggs. Toss everything in a Creole mustard vinaigrette.
Steamed Broccoli
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Steamed broccoli florets provide vitamin-rich, crispy-tender goodness alongside the saucy shrimp.
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For extra flavor, toss the broccoli with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes after steaming.
Roasted Green Beans
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Roasted green beans develop a delicious caramelized flavor that pairs perfectly with the creole seasoning on the shrimp.
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Toss green beans with olive oil, salt, and pepper before roasting. Finish them with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Coleslaw
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The cool crispness of coleslaw contrasts wonderfully with hot shrimp creole. The cabbage also aids digestion.
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For a zesty pairing, dress shredded cabbage with a spicy Creole-seasoned mayo. Garnish with scallions and parsley.
Starches and Potatoes
If you want more hearty, filling side dishes, starches and potatoes are a great option with shrimp creole. Here are some recommended recipes:
Cheesy Grits
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Slow-cooked grits enriched with cheese make an indulgent pairing with shrimp creole.
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For the best texture, use old-fashioned or stone ground grits. Cook them with chicken broth and top with grated sharp cheddar.
Baked Potatoes
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A baked russet potato is a satisfying side. Top with butter, sour cream, bacon bits, and scallions for a loaded baked potato.
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Or turn the potato into twice-baked potatoes by scooping out the insides, mixing with cheese, cream, and seasonings, then baking again.
Sweet Potato Fries
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For a fun twist, make sweet potato fries coated in Creole seasoning to mirror the flavors in the shrimp.
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Bake the fries instead of frying for a healthier option. Serve with spicy mayo for dipping.
Buttery Mashed Potatoes
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Smooth, creamy mashed potatoes are hard to resist next to saucy shrimp creole.
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For ultra-rich spuds, use heavy cream and lots of butter. Season with salt, white pepper, and nutmeg.
Recipe Swaps
If you happen to have leftovers of other dishes on hand, those can also make for quick and tasty side pairings. Here are a few recipe swap ideas:
Red Beans and Rice
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Spoon leftover red beans and rice alongside the shrimp creole for a hearty Louisiana-style feast.
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Or toss the cooked shrimp right into the red beans and rice to turn it into an easy one-pot shrimp & sausage jambalaya.
Fried Catfish
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Crispy cornmeal-fried catfish complements the shrimp perfectly.
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For a low-carb option, you can bake or pan fry the catfish in olive oil instead of deep frying.
Hushpuppies
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What goes better with shrimp than hushpuppies? These crispy deep-fried cornmeal dumplings beg to be dunked in the creole sauce.
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To lighten them up, try baking the hushpuppy batter in a mini muffin tin. They’ll be bite-sized bites of cornbread deliciousness.
Putting It All Together
Shrimp creole lends itself to all sorts of delicious side dish pairings. From rice and bread basics to fresh veggies, hearty starches, and recipe swaps, you have loads of options to choose from.
Here are a few final tips for putting together a stellar shrimp creole dinner:
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Pick just 2-3 side dishes so you don’t overwhelm the meal. Aim for a mix of textures and flavors.
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Make sure at least one side is something bright or fresh to balance the rich, savory creole sauce.
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Don’t be afraid to get creative and add your own spin to basic sides with extra herbs, spices, cheese, etc.
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Cook any raw veggie sides before the shrimp creole so everything is ready at the same time.
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Time the cooking so hot sides like rice are at their peak temperature when the shrimp creole is finished.
With delicious shrimp simmered in a robust tomato, spice and vegetable sauce served over rice and alongside a few thoughtfully chosen sides, you have all the makings of an incredible Louisiana-inspired dinner. So try out some of these tasty pairing suggestions the next time you whip up a batch of classic shrimp creole!
Watch me make Shrimp Creole here:
- Shrimp-the main ingredient
- White wine and vegetable broth are used to clean out the pan and season the food.
- Aromatics: Celery, garlic, bell peppers, bay leaves, and white onion are some of the aromatic vegetables that are used in the sauce to add layers of flavor and smell. The flavors develop as the vegetables are added to the dish and cooked over time.
- Worcestshire Sauce: makes the sauce taste better and adds a little sweetness
- Hot Sauce-gives the sauce a little heat
- Tomato Paste-acts as the base and helps thicken the sauce
- Tomatoes: Since this sauce is made with tomatoes, they form the base.
- Lemon juice gives it a little sourness and zing.
- Decorations with lots of flavor: chives and parsley are used to finish off the dish.
- Blend of spices-there are several different spices involved here. Ground oregano, white pepper, onion powder, black pepper, and salt are some of the most important spices in the dish because they bring out the flavors.
- Olive oil-used to cook the vegetables
- Butter-adds richness to this tomato based sauce
- Basmati Rice is a light type of rice that soaks up that tasty sauce perfectly.
How to make Easy Shrimp Creole
Cutting up all the vegetables is the first thing that needs to be done to get ready for this meal. The celery should be chopped pretty small to cut down on cooking time. Generally, I like to cut each rib in half and then slice the halves into small pieces. It will also save a lot of time to peel and devein the shrimp ahead of time and cut up all the garnishes.
- In two tablespoons of olive oil, cook the vegetables until they are soft. The best thing to do here is to add the celery first and let it cook for 5 minutes. It is harder to cook and will need more time. Add the onions and bell peppers after the first step is done. Cook for about two minutes. Then add the garlic and cook it in the pan for about 30 seconds until it smells good. Then add the chopped tomatoes. Layering is important because the flavors need time to build on top of each other for the creole to taste great.
- Put in the bay leaves, tomato paste, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, white wine, and all the other spices.
- Prepare your rice while the sauce reduces.
- The rest of the cooking time is used to slowly cook the ingredients over medium-low heat. At the same time, this will cut down on the liquid and give the ingredients time to blend together. As soon as most of the liquid is gone, which should take about 15 minutes, the shrimp go in for the last step of the process.
- In the sauce, cook the shrimp until they are fully cooked. They should have curled up into the shape of a “C.” ” This should take 3-4 minutes on medium-low heat.
- Serve this simple shrimp creole with rice and chopped chives and parsley on top before you eat it.