Best Creole Red Sauce Recipes

RED SNAPPER - ROASTED IN A CREOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the fish in a baking dish and make shallow diagonal 3 inch long cuts on each side of the fish. Season each side of the fish with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 t of the Creole seasoning. Let the seasoned fish rest in the fridge while you make the sauce.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a medium stockpot over med-high heat. Add your onions, bell peppers, celery, the remaining 2 t of salt, cayenne, thyme and the bay leaves. Cook, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes - until the onions are soft and golden. Stir in the green onions and garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes (don't brown the flour).
• Add the tomatoes, chicken stock, Worcestershire sauce and the pepper sauce. Cook this mixture over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Add the parsley and then remove the sauce from the heat and let cool for about 15 minutes.
• Pour the sauce over the red snapper and bake it for about 1 hour, until the flesh if firm and cooked through (if you are using smaller fish filets, you will have to adjust the time down).
• Loosen the head from the fish and remove. Run a spoon down the back of the fish to find the spine. Gently loosen the flesh from the spine and the bones, slipping a wide spatula under the flesh, lift the flesh away from the gones and lay the filet of fish on a serving plate. Gently pull the fish skeleton away from the bottom filet and discard. Lift the bottom filet from the roasting pan and put on the serving plate. Remove and discard the bay leaves and pour the sauce into a bowl for serving.
• Serve the fish with the sauce spooned over the top!

PAN-FRIED RED SNAPPER FILLET WITH CORN CREAM CREOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat the achiote oil over medium heat. Add the onions, bell peppers, tomato, chile peppers, garlic, cilantro, bay leaf, salt, and pepper, and stir-fry for about 4 minutes. Add the corn and fish stock and cook over medium heat for about 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Transfer to a blender process until smooth on high speed.* Pour the sauce through a fine strainer into a saucepan, add the evaporated milk, and warm over low heat.
• Dilute the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water. Add to the saucepan, mix well, and incorporate the butter with a whisk. Taste for seasoning and and cook for about 5 minutes. Keep warm.
• Generously season both sides of the fish with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over high heat. When oil is hot, place the fillets in the skillet, skin side down, and cook for 3 minutes, without turning. Flip onto other side and cook for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat to a platter.
• Spoon the warm sauce in the center of each dinner plate. Top with a fish portion. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and the toasted and crushed coriander seeds.

NEW ORLEANS BAKED STUFFED RED SNAPPER WITH CREOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make Creole sauce: In 2 T. hot butter in medium saucepan, saute celery, 1/2 cup o nion, the green pepper and garlic, stirring, until onion is golden-brown - 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, bay leaf, chili powder, 1 t. salt, sugar, and 1/8 t. pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; reduce heat; simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, 20 minutes or until thickened. Makes about 2-1/2 cups sauce.
• Make stuffing: Trim crusts from bread and grate on medium box grater or use food processor. Set aside (makes about 2 cups).
• In 1/4 cup hot butter in medium skillet, saute green onion, stirring for 3 minutes. Add parsley, salt, and pepper; mix well. Add bread crumbs; toss to mix well.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash fish inside and out under cold running water. Drain well; pat dry with paper towels.
• Line a shallow roasting pan with foil; butter foil. Place fish in prepared pan; brush inside of fish with mixture of melted butter, salt and pepper. Fill cavity with the stuffing; close the opening with skewers or wooden picks. Pour 2 T. lemon juice over the fish.
• Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes. Pour 1 cup sauce over fish. Bake, basting twice, 10 minutes longer, or until fish flakes easily with a fork. With 2 wide spatulas, remove fish to serving platter. Garnish with chopped parsley and pass rest of sauce on the side.

CREOLE RED SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil over medium heat, add the onions, peppers and celery, sautéing until slightly wilted.
• Add the Garlic and Tomatoes and cook for about 1-2 minutes.
• Combine the salt, black pepper, thyme, cayenne pepper and white pepper in a small bowl. Stir to combine.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon to the vegetable mixture and stir.
• Cover with stock of choice (shrimp for seafood, chicken for poultry) by 1/2 inch, add Bay Leaves and stir.
• In a small bowl combine cornstarch and water-whisk until smooth, set aside.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often.
• Taste and add additional seasoning blend if desired.
• Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, parsley and green onions.
• Bring sauce up to a gentle boil and add the cornstarch slurry, a little at a time. You want your sauce tight but not watery.
• Remove bay leaves.