How Gulf Shrimp Became The King of Shrimp

How Gulf Shrimp Became The King of Shrimp

Jul 13, 2022 | Stories & More | 1 comment

It’s easy to find popcorn shrimp, in fact, we are a popcorn shrimp nation. We are enthralled by endless shrimp platters and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets and love overstuffed po’boys, steaming bowls of scampi, takeout containers dripping with kung pao, and one of Louisiana’s favorite: Cajun seasoned shrimp. However, for those of us, that know shrimp know that popcorn shrimp is a fraud.
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Seafood Gumbo

Seafood Gumbo

Oct 12, 2020 | Recipes, Soups & Salads | 3 comments

 

Nothing feeds the belly and the soul like a warm bowl of gumbo. Served over rice, this dish combines all your seafood favorites into one comforting bowl.
For more recipes like this check out our cookbook Growing Up Cajun.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups chopped fresh okra
  • 1½ cups chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 1 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 3 tbsp minced garlic
  • 6 cups seafood stock
  • 1 (8-ounce) container crab claw meat, picked free of shell
  • 1½ cup amber beer
  • 2 tbsps file powder
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tsp Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun Seasoning
  • 1 tsp Slap Ya Mama Hot Cajun Seasoning
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 lb medium fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 lb red snapper fillets, chopped
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • hot cooked rice, to serve
  • 2 (8-ounce) containers shucked oysters, drained
  • 1 (8-ounce) container of jumbo lump crabmeat, pickled free of shell
  • Garnish: sliced green onion

Instructions

  • In a 8-quart stockpot, heat oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes; add flour, stirring to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, until a peanut butter-colored roux forms, about 20 minutes.
  • Add okra, onion, bell peppers, celery, and garlic; cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add stock, crab claw meat, beer, filé powder, Worcestershire, salt, Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun Seasoning, Slap Ya Mama Hot Cajun Seasoning, and bay leaves; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a medium, and simmer for about 1 hour.
  • Add shrimp, fish, oysters, and lump crabmeat; cool until seafood is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in Parsley. Serve over hot cooked rice. Garnish with green onion, if desired.

Notes

Slap Ya Mama Hot Cajun Seasoning
Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun Seasoning
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Mama Jen’s Shrimp Dip

Mama Jen’s Shrimp Dip

Oct 1, 2020 | Appetizers, Recipes | 2 comments

 

A good party snack should be irresistible and addictive, and this dip is just that. You'll never have to ask, "What can I bring?" again.
For more delicious recipes like this check out our cookbook Growing Up Cajun !
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 6 tbsp mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup chopped onion
  • ¼ cup chopped bell pepper
  • 1 (4-ounce) can tiny shrimp, drained
  • Slap Ya Mama White Pepper Blend, to taste

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, stir together cream cheese and mayonnaise. Add ketchup, onion, and bell pepper. Stir in shrimp and Slap Ya Mama White Pepper Blend. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. Serve with bagel chips.

Notes

Slap Ya Mama White Pepper Blend
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Slap Ya Mama Shrimp Hushpuppies with Shut Ya Up Sauce

Slap Ya Mama Shrimp Hushpuppies with Shut Ya Up Sauce

Jul 9, 2020 | Appetizers, Recipes | 0 comments

 

This recipe was submitted to our Slap Ya Mama Virtual Cook-off by Laurie Foste Tant! Give these Hush Puppies a try!
Author Laurie Foste Tant

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • ½ cup flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ⅛ cup sugar
  • 2 tsp  Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ cup onion chopped
  • 1 lb cooked shrimp, cleaned and tails removed, chopped

Shut Ya Up Sauce

  • 1 cup mayo
  • 2 tbsp Creole Mustard
  • 2 tbsp  Slap Ya Mama Cajun Pepper Sauce
  • 1 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1½ tsp chopped garlic
  • 1 tsp ground pepper

Instructions

Hush Puppies

  • In a large bowl mix, 1 cup of cornmeal, 1/2 cup of flour, 1 egg, 1 cup of buttermilk, 1/8 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons  Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 cup onion chopped, 1 lb of cooked shrimp, cleaned and tails removed, chopped in large bowl
  • Drop the batter by rounded tablespoons into the hot oil, careful not to overcrowd the pan.
  • Fry in batches for 2 to 3 minutes each. Remove from oil to paper towels to drain. 
  • Transfer to a serving platter or bowl and serve with Shut Ya Up Sauce.

Shut Ya Up Sauce

  • In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine 1 cup mayo, 2 tablespoons creole mustard, 2 tablespoons  Slap Ya Mama Cajun Pepper Sauce, 1 tablespoon ketchup, 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 ½ teaspoon chopped garlic, 1 teaspoon ground pepper.
  • Mix well. Cover and chill before serving with hushpuppies

Notes

Links to Slap Ya Mama Products used: 
 Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning
 Slap Ya Mama Cajun Pepper Sauce
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SHRIMP & CORN SOUP WITH TASSO

SHRIMP & CORN SOUP WITH TASSO

May 28, 2020 | Recipes, Soups & Salads | 0 comments

 

Tasso adds an extra kick to this flavor-packed and perfectly creamy soup.
This recipe and more delicious recipes can be found in our cookbook Growing Up Cajun 
Servings 8 people

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1½ tbsp Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun Seasoning
  • 2 cups chopped tasso or cooked ham
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
  • 2 (14-ounce) cans cream-style corn
  • 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (10-ounce) can cream of shrimp soup
  • 1 (10-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 lb medium fresh shrimp, peeled, deveined, and rinsed
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • Garnish chopped green onion

Instructions

  • In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add tasso, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and 1 tablespoon Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun Seasoning; sautéuntil onion is translucent.
  • Stir in cream cheese, and cook until softened.
  • Add corn, tomatoes, soups, milk, and remaining1⁄2 tablespoon Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun Seasoning; cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
  • Add 3⁄4 cup water; increase heat, and bring to a light boil.
  • Add shrimp, and return to a light boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • With 5 minutes remaining, stir in parsley. Garnish with green onion, if desired.

Notes

Growing Up Cajun 
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When it’s Hot, Make Shrimp Ceviche!

When it’s Hot, Make Shrimp Ceviche!

Jul 30, 2018 | cajun, cajun seasoning, Fish & Seafood, Recipes, Stories & More | 2 comments

As the summer heat sets in it can be hard to find food that sounds appealing, but one meal that will keep you cool is Shrimp Ceviche. The refreshing dish is light and bright, so it won’t weight you down. Plus, you won’t have to turn on your oven or stove to cook it since requires no actual heat. Of Peruvian origin, ceviche is fish or seafood marinated in citrus juices, which then “cook” the fish. 
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Slap Ya Mama’s Shrimp & Grits

Slap Ya Mama’s Shrimp & Grits

Feb 18, 2017 | Fish & Seafood, Recipes | 17 comments

Slap Ya Mama’s Shrimp & Grits

Whether it’s Sunday Brunch or any other part of any other day, Shrimp & Grits is always a good call.  Cheesy grits covered in bacon, tasso and jumbo shrimp…you gotta love that.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup stone ground grits
  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 tsp Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Seasoning
  • Salt to taste (for grits)
  • 6 strips bacon, chopped
  • ½ onion, chopped
  • ½ bell pepper, chopped
  • ½ cup tasso or smoked ham
  • 1 tsp Slap Ya Mama White Pepper Blend Seasoning
  • 1 pound jumbo shrimp, deveined & peeled, leaving the tail on
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 Tbsp parsley, chopped
  • ½ tsp garlic, minced
  • green onions, chopped (topping)

Directions:

In a pot over high heat, add water and grits.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and let simmer until the grits have absorbed the water; about 25 to 30 minutes.  Stir often to prevent sticking.  Remove from heat and add 3 Tbsp of butter, cheese, salt to taste and Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Seasoning.  Mix until cheese has fully melted.

Season shrimp with Slap Ya Mama White Pepper Blend Seasoning and set aside.

In a large pan over medium-high heat, cook bacon.  Remove bacon and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.  Reduce heat to medium and in the bacon drippings, add onions, bell peppers and tasso.  Sauté until the onions are translucent.  Add shrimp and sauté until pink.  Add lemon juice, parsley, garlic, bacon and remaining butter.  Sauté for about 3 minutes and remove from heat.

Spoon grits into a bowl and generously top with shrimp mixture and green onions.  Serve and enjoy.

New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp

New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp

Jun 1, 2016 | Fish & Seafood, Recipes | 2 comments

New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp

Barbecue shrimp is a classic New Orleans dish everyone loves.  Spiced up with Slap Ya Mama, you’ll be begging for more after one bite.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds jumbo or colossal fresh shrimp, heads on
  • 7 cups cold water
  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • 11/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning
  • 2 shallots, minced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup Slap Ya Mama Cajun Hot Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup dark or amber beer
  • 2 loaves French bread, for serving

Directions:

  1. Peel shrimp and devein, leaving tails on and reserving the heads and shells. Refrigerate shrimp.
  2. In a small Dutch oven, add shrimp heads and shells, and cover with 7 cups cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Skim any froth as it rises to the surface. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, and set aside. Reserve 1 cup shrimp stock. Remaining stock can be refrigerated up to 1 week or frozen up to 3 months.
  3. In a large skillet, melt 5 tablespoons butter over high heat. Add rosemary, pepper, Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning, shallot, and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add reserved stock, Worcestershire, Slap Ya Mama Cajun Hot Sauce, and lemon juice. Add shrimp, and cook just until pink and firm.
  4. Add beer, and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Decrease heat to low, and add remaining 7 tablespoons butter. Gently stir as the butter melts into the sauce and the sauce is emulsified. Serve immediately with French bread.

Makes about 4 Servings

Seafood Stuffed Potato with a Creamy Crawfish Sauce

Seafood Stuffed Potato with a Creamy Crawfish Sauce

May 3, 2016 | Chef Ace Champion, Fish & Seafood, Recipes, Sides | 2 comments

Seafood Stuffed Potato with a Creamy Crawfish Sauce

This is the BEST stuffed potato you will ever eat! Stuffed with crawfish and shrimp then topped with a creamy sauce and more crawfish…you might fall in love with this Seafood Stuffed Potato. Mmmmm!

Recipe by Chef Ace Champion

Potato & Stuffing:

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Rub baked potatoes lightly with olive oil and season with salt if desired. Wrap each potato with aluminum foil and bake in a pre-heated oven at 400 degrees F. until the potato is tender to the touch and you can stick a toothpick through it with no problem. This should take about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Remove potatoes from oven and let sit for 30 minutes before removing the foil.
  2. Peel shrimp, leaving tail on, and place in a small bowl, set shells aside for stock. Season shrimp to taste with Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun Seasoning and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, add 4 cups of water and shrimp shells into a medium-sized pot over medium heat and allow the stock to simmer until you have reduced the liquid by half. Set aside. Note: For more flavor in your stock, you can add a chicken bouillon cube or 2 teaspoons of Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun Seasoning.
  3. In a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat, add cooking oil. Heat oil until hot, add shrimp and sauté until pink all the way through. About 2 to 3 minutes on each side, making sure you are turning the shrimp so it cooks evenly on all sides. When done set aside in a bowl and let cool for easy handling.
  4. Slice the potato along the middle; be sure not to cut in half. Using a spoon create a pocked in the potato. Add about 4 to 5 crawfish to each potato and divide the shrimp amongst potatoes, leaving the tail of the shrimp hanging out. Place potatoes on a baking sheet and set aside.

Sherry Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 medium shallots, diced
  • ¼ cup brandy, flambéed (ignite) is optional
  • 2 cups sherry wine
  • 1 cup shrimp stock
  • ¼ cup crawfish juice, drained from crawfish packaging
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup crawfish tail meat
  • ½ cup green onions, sliced for garnish

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of butter, garlic and shallots. Sautee lightly for about 2 minutes; add brandy and flambé (ignite), stirring constantly. Add the wine, shrimp stock and crawfish juice and reduce by half. Add heavy whipping cream and continue cooking. When the sauce is at a smooth consistency, stir in remaining butter and mix well. Add remaining Crawfish tail meat and cook for another 2 minutes. (The sauce should have the consistency of Alfredo Sauce.)

Hint: If sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little chicken broth. If sauce is too runny, thicken it by adding more heavy whipping cream until the desired consistency is reached.

  1. Spoon some of the sauce over each potato then top with the cheese.
  2. Bake the potatoes in the oven at 400 degrees for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.

Plating:

Divide the sauce amongst 4 plates, spooning it directly onto the middle of the plate. Add the baked potato to the center of the plate then spoon a generous amount of sauce over each potato and garnish with the green onions. Enjoy!

Makes 4 Servings

Shrimp Scampi W/ Spaghetti Squash

Shrimp Scampi W/ Spaghetti Squash

Oct 29, 2015 | Fish & Seafood, Recipes

Ingredients:

  • 2 - 3 1/2 pound spaghetti squash
  • 6 Tbsp butter, divided
  • 1 1/2 pound large shrimp; fresh, peeled, deveined & rinsed
  • 2 large shallots, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 Tbsp capers
  • 1 tsp Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Seasoning
  • 1 tsp Slap Ya Mama Hot Blend Seasoning
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Using a fork, pierce squashes all over. Place on baking sheet and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until tender. Let cool 15 minutes. Slice squash in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out seeds and discard. Using a fork, shred squash meat into a large bowl and set aside. Toss out skin. In a large cast iron skillet, melt 1 Tbsp of butter over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and 1 tsp of Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Seasoning and cook until shrimp are pink and firm, about 5 minutes. Remove shrimp and set aside. In the same skillet, add 1 Tbsp of butter over medium-high heat. Add shallots and garlic, sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add white wine and chicken broth, increase heat to high. Bring to a boil and let boil until liquid is reduced by two-thirds. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in remaining 4 Tbsp of butter, cream, capers and 1 Tbsp of Slap Ya Mama Hot Blend Seasoning. Cook until butter is completely melted. Stir in squash and shrimp. Top with chopped parsley and serve.

Serves Approximately 6

Slap Ya Mama’s Seafood Lasagna

Slap Ya Mama’s Seafood Lasagna

Nov 6, 2014 | Meat & Poultry, Recipes

Looking for some Cajun seafood recipes for dinner? Try Slap Ya Mama’s Seafood Lasagna. Our zesty Cajun lasagna features shrimp, crabmeat, and crawfish complete with Slap Ya Mama’s etouffee sauce to really pack a punch in flavor. See full recipe ingredients and prep time.

Ingredients:

  • 1 16oz Jar of Slap Ya Mama Etouffee Sauce
  • 1 lb Shrimp, Peeled & Deveined
  • ½ lb Crab Meat
  • ½ lb Crawfish Tails (if available)
  • ½ Cup Water
  • 12 Lasagna Noodles
  • 4 cups Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded
  • ¾ Cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
  • 15 oz Ricotta Cheese
  • 1 Egg

Directions:

In a 6 quart pot, add Slap Ya Mama Etouffee Sauce, shrimp, crab and crawfish.  (If you don’t have access to crawfish, you can substitute with ½ pound more of shrimp or crab).  Add ½ cup of water.  Bring to a light boil, cover and let simmer for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat and let rest.

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.  Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for approximately 12 minutes.  Drain noodles and rinse with cold water.  In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese and egg.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

To assemble, spread half of the etouffee sauce mixture in the bottom of a 9” x 13” baking dish.  Arrange 6 lasagna noodles lengthwise over etouffee sauce.  Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over noodles.  Layer with one half of mozzarella over ricotta cheese.  Spread remaining half of etouffee sauce mixture over mozzarella and sprinkle ¼ cup parmesan cheese.  Layer another 6 lasagna noodles and remaining ricotta cheese, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.  Cover with foil, making sure it doesn’t touch the cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 30 minutes.  Cool for 15 minutes before serving.  Enjoy!

Serves 8

Slap Ya Mama Pastalaya

Slap Ya Mama Pastalaya

Mar 26, 2014 | Fish & Seafood, Meat & Poultry, Recipes | 1 comment

Slap Ya Mama Pastalaya is a unique take on the traditional Cajun Jambalaya.  With smoked sausage, spicy chicken, fresh shrimp and pasta instead of rice, this dish will most definitely become a household favorite.

Ingredients:

  • 12oz chicken breast, cubed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ large sweet onion, julienned
  • bell pepper, julienned
  • ½ pound smoked sausage, sliced
  • 14 ½ oz can diced tomatoes
  • 8oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp dried basil
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tbsp Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Seasoning
  • 12oz large fresh shrimp (26-35 ct), peeled & deveined
  • ¼ cup parsley, chopped
  • 8oz penne pasta, cooked to package directions

Directions:

Season cubed chicken breast pieces with 1 ½ tsp of Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Seasoning.  In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil and chicken.  Cook chicken until all sides are browned.  Add onions to skillet, cook until they start to soften then add bell peppers, and sausage.   Sautee for 5 minutes then add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, oregano, basil, thyme and the remainder of Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Seasoning (1 ½ tsp).  Bring to a light boil, reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 20 minutes.  With 4 minutes left to cook, stir in shrimp and parsley.  Serve over a bed of penne pasta and enjoy.

Makes 6 Servings