This simple combination of two favorite Southern ingredients—okra and shrimp—makes for a delicious stew. Try it over cooked white rice or with some crusty bread to sop up the juices.
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What Is Okra and Shrimp?
Okra and shrimp is a classic Southern dish made with two of the region’s favorite ingredients. Star-shaped, seed-filled okra pods are a common ingredient in stews such as gumbo and rice dishes like Jambalaya. In coastal areas, like New Orleans and parts of South Carolina, shrimp are a staple food. This dish features okra and fresh shrimp cooked in a rich Cajun-spiced sauce to form a stew so delicious you’ll completely forget the vegetable’s slimy reputation.
3 Tips for Cooking Okra and Shrimp
Once you get the hang of this Louisiana-inspired dish, using these tips, you’ll want to make variations of okra and shrimp stew over and over again.
- 1. Use fresh or frozen okra. While fresh, in-season okra will produce the best-tasting okra and shrimp stew, frozen okra can also be used in this recipe. Frozen okra should be added after the tomato sauce has been assembled, rather than with the other sautéed vegetables.
- 2. Play around with additions. This hearty, Cajun-inspired stew can be adapted to include a variety of proteins, vegetables, and seasonings. Add complimentary vegetables like eggplant, red pepper, zucchini, and fresh corn to the vegetable mixture. Replace the spices in this recipe with your favorite spice blend, such as Cajun seasoning or Creole seasoning. Or add meats, like Andouille sausage, to the stew for an extra layer of flavor.
- 3. Make extra for leftovers. This flavorful stew will actually benefit from some overnight time in the refrigerator. To allow the flavors to develop even further, refrigerate the soup in an airtight container for up to two days.
Okra and Shrimp Recipe
makes
prep time
10 mintotal time
1 hrcook time
50 minIngredients
- 1
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter and warm the olive oil.
- 2
Add the cut okra, onion, and bell pepper to the skillet, and cook until the okra has begun to soften and the onion is slightly translucent, about 5 minutes.
- 3
Add the garlic to the skillet and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
- 4
Add the tomatoes, broth, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, and salt to the skillet, and stir to combine.
- 5
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the sauce, and allow it to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 6
Add the shrimp to the sauce, and stir to combine.
- 7
Increase the heat to medium and cook the shrimp until they are pink and opaque, about 10 minutes.
- 8
Remove the pan from the heat, and serve the stew in individual serving bowls over rice.
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