Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Gravy over Biscuits

"A few years back I was visiting friends in LA, and after a long day of fishing, a wonderful dinner with fresh fish of course, the next day we all woke up famished. Well ... biscuits with sausage gravy was the request, but I wanted to do something a little cajun. Our last vacation day, so it was clean out the fridge, but still trying to make something that resembled biscuits with sausage gravy. After a quick run to a local quick stop to get some cream and biscuits we were set. Well this is the creation, and it is really good. The only thing I have changed since I returned is that I love to add some scallions right at the end for a fresh flavor, but otherwise, pretty much the same. Make this for a breakfast/brunch for family this holiday season. And if you don't want to use andouille, use a spicy or mild sausage along with the cajun spices. And if you bake, make your own biscuits. I'm just not much of a baker, so I take a short cut and use a canned biscuit. We served this with some scrambled eggs and Bloody Mary's (it was the last day of vacation). But skip the eggs, and you won't miss them - this is a very satisfying dish."
 
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Ready In:
40mins
Ingredients:
14
Serves:
4-6
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ingredients

  • 20 medium shrimp (peeled and tails removed)
  • 3 andouille sausages, links (sliced and then diced)
  • 1 cup onion, diced
  • 12 cup celery, diced
  • 12 cup red pepper, diced (you could use green if that is all you have, red to me are sweeter)
  • 2 scallions, diced (green parts)
  • 3 cups heavy cream (heavy cream is a must for this)
  • 14 cup white wine (optional)
  • 12 hot sauce (more or less to taste)
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil to saute the vegetables
  • salt
  • pepper
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directions

  • Sausage -- In a large saute pan cook the diced andouille on medium heat until cooked through. Don't cook it at too high of a temperature. You want to slowly saute it. Once it is done, remove to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain.
  • Sauce -- In the same pan, pour out the drippings from the andouille (no need to clean the pan out, the flavor is fine, you just don't want all the oil) and add the fresh olive oil and bring to medium high heat. Add in the onion, celery, red pepper and garlic and saute 3-4 minutes.
  • Deglaze -- Originally I used chicken broth because that is all I had. Now, I like to deglaze with white wine just to get all the bits up off the pan. Add the wine and scrape up the bits from the pan and cook just a minute, then remove from the heat and slowly add in the cream, hot sauce (to taste) and the cajun seasoning and return to the heat on medium low cook until it reduces about 20-30 minutes. The cream will naturally thicken on it's own.
  • Shrimp and Sausage -- After the sauce has thickened, add the sausage back in as well as the shrimp and cook on medium heat until the shrimp begin to curl and turn pink. Add salt and pepper if needed according to your taste.
  • Biscuits -- Now I just used a canned biscuit, so I baked them according to directions, but if you want to make your own, by all means please do.
  • Serving -- Right before serving, add in the scallions and serve this decadent sauce over sliced biscuits.
  • Cook up some of your favorite eggs and serve with some Bloody Mary's for a perfect brunch. This also would make a great lunch or dinner.

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Reviews

  1. This was very very good! I modified it a little because of what I had on hand so I used groud pork instead of the sausages. I left out the wine and used green pepper. We loved it. I was able to freeze some for leftovers this weekend! Thanks!
     
  2. SCORE! My husband and I are really big cajun food fans and I fell over this recipe and we loved it. Made a nice surprise for him on a late breakfast on a cold morning.
     
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Tweaks

  1. This was very very good! I modified it a little because of what I had on hand so I used groud pork instead of the sausages. I left out the wine and used green pepper. We loved it. I was able to freeze some for leftovers this weekend! Thanks!
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>Growing up in Michigan, I spent my summers at my cottage in the Northern part up by Traverscity. On a lake, big garden which had all the vegetables you could imagine. My mom taught school, so summers were our vacation time. Gramps and I fished all the time so fresh fish was always on the menu, perch, blue gill, walleye and small and large mouth bass. At age 5 I learned how to clean my own fish and by 10 I was making dinner, canning vegetables and fruits, making pies and fresh breads. Apples fresh picked every fall, strawberries in June and July, Cherries at the Cherry Festival in Traverscity. So fresh foods always were a big part. Mom worked as a teacher during the year so dinner was more traditional with pot roasts, meatloaf, etc, but it seemed we always had fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the meal. Mom also didn't use as many spices as I do, but times were different back then. <br /> <br />So ... My motto is ... There is NO Right and NO Wrong with cooking. So many people thing they have to follow a recipe. But NO ... a recipe is a method and directions to help and teach someone. Cooking is about personal tastes and flavors. I love garlic ... and another person may not. I like heat ... but you may not. Recipes are building blocks, NOT text ground in stone. Use them to make and build on. Even my recipes I don't follow most times --They are a base. That is what cooking is to me. A base of layer upon layer of flavors. <br /> <br />I still dislike using canned soups or packaged gravies/seasoning ... but I admit, I do use them. I have a few recipes that use them. But I try to strive to teach people to use fresh ingredients, they are first ... so much healthier for you ... and second, in the end less expensive. But we all have our moments including me. <br /> <br />So, lets see ... In the past, I have worked as a hostess, bartender, waitress, then a short order cook, salad girl in the kitchen, sort of assistant chef, head chef, co owner of a restaurant ... now a consultant to a catering company/restaurant, I cater myself and I'm a personal chef for a elderly lady. I work doing data entry during the day, and now and then try to have fun which is not very often due to my job(s). <br /> <br />I have a 21 year old who at times is going on 12, aren't they all. Was married and now single and just trying to enjoy life one day at a time. I'm writing a cookbook ... name is still in the works but it is dedicated to those people who never learned, to cook. Single Moms, Dads, or Just Busy Parents. Those individuals that think you can't make a great dinner for not a lot of money. You can entertain on a budget and I want people to know that gourmet tasting food doesn't have to be from a can of soup or a box, and healthy food doesn't come from a drive through. There are some really good meals that people can make which are healthy and will save money but taste amazing. So I guess that is my current goal. We all take short cuts and I have no problem with that - I do it too. I volunteer and make food for the homeless every couple of months, donating my time and money. I usually make soup for them and many times get donations from a local grocery stores, Sams Club, Walmart etc, with broth, and vegetables. It makes my cost very little and well worth every minute I spend. Like anyone, life is always trying to figure things out and do the best we can and have fun some how along the way.</p>
 
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