The Anchorage Shrimp Creole

Source: The Anchorage - Beaufort, South Carolina

Tomato Sauce
1 large onion, chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 1/2 (14 to 16 ounce) cans whole tomatoes, including juice
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 cup dry red wine
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
1 bay leaf

In a large heavy skillet cook onion in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add remaining sauce ingredients and salt and pepper to taste and simmer sauce, stirring occasionally, 45 minutes, or until thickened. Discard bay leaf and in a food processor pur?e sauce until smooth. Tomato sauce may be prepared up to this point 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.

Creole Seasoning
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
3/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled

In a small bowl stir together Creole seasoning ingredients.

Shrimp Mixture
1 onion, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1 fresh jalape?o chile, or to taste, seeded
    and chopped fine (wear rubber gloves)
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (14 to 16 ounce) cans whole tomatoes,
    drained and chopped coarse
1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp (about 48),
    shelled and deveined if desired
Accompaniment: cooked rice
Garnish: 1/4 cup packed fresh parsley
    leaves, washed well, spun dry, and chopped

In a large heavy saucepan cook onion, celery, bell peppers, and jalape?o in oil over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add Creole seasoning and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add tomatoes and 2 cups sauce and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Creole sauce may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring Creole sauce to a simmer before proceeding.

Discard bay leaves and add shrimp to Creole sauce. Simmer mixture, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes, or until shrimp are cooked through.

Serve Shrimp Creole over rice, garnished with parsley.

Serves 4 to 6.