Baked Shrimp Po' Boys + Oven Baked Beignets

Happy weekend! I hardly ever post on Saturday, but I wanted to write up the 2 True Blood recipes from earlier this week in case anyone is interested in making them for tomorrow night's premiere...or just in general. (oh and bonus that You've Got Mail is on TBS right now while I'm writing this...score!)

I concocted the po' boys on a whim. I had never baked shrimp. I had never made a po' boy. In fact, I honestly wasn't even sure what went into a po' boy. But once I have an idea, I just go with it. I'm so glad I went with this one. Shaun is already asking me to make this again. The tender shrimp with a salty cornmeal crust, a seasoned sauce and some fresh lettuce come together in a salty, flavor explosion! And I can't wait to try it again...for True Blood or not.

 

Baked Shrimp Po’ Boys
Serves 3 - 4
1 lb raw shrimp, peeled, deveined & tails off*
½ C cornmeal
½ C all-purpose flour
cooking spray
2 Tbsp Creole seasoning (recipe below)
1 C mayonnaise (or ½ C mayo, ½ C Greek yogurt mixed together)
2 C romaine lettuce
3-4 Portugese-style rolls

Creole seasoning
*Adapted from Emeril’s ESSENCE Creole Seasoning
2 ½ Tbsp paprika
1 ½ Tbsp garlic powder
1 ½ Tbsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp cayenne pepper (or more if you like it spicy!)
1 Tbsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp dried thyme

Whisk the seasonings all together and set aside.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Once your shrimps are all cleaned, lay out on a plate and sprinkle very lightly with the seasoning.

In a small bowl, combine the flour and cornmeal. Dredge the shrimp in the mixture and lay on a wire rack sprayed with cooking oil, and set over a foil-lined baking sheet (got all that?). Sprinkle lightly with the seasoning and spray the shrimp lightly with cooking spray. Turn the shrimp over and repeat. Bake for 10-12 minutes until shrimp are cooked through, but not overcooked. Meanwhile, mix 1 Tbsp of the seasoning with the mayonnaise and set aside. When shrimp are done, remove from the oven. Spread sauce onto the roll, layer on the shrimp and top with a bit of lettuce.

 

Enjoy! 

As for the oven baked beignets, I used a Good Housekeeping recipe via Jenna @ Eat Live Run.

Now. I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that they are the same thing as fried beignets. They aren't. They are doughier and a little heavier. BUT. They are delicious. They are healthier by not being fried. And they are way easier since you don't have to stand over a fryer (bonus) and you are saved from having to clean the fryer (my least favorite task ever). Check out the recipe on Eat Live Run if ya like!

So there you have it. Two on-a-whim recipes that came together in a flash and tasted like a million bucks. Or something like that. I hope you enjoy these! And if you missed all things True Blood earlier this week, check out this post. Can't wait to open the discussion tomorrow on the season premiere! xo