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Classic Creole sauce seems to be making a comeback. It's a tomato-based concoction with the holy trinity (bell pepper, celery, and onions). I find myself using it with all sorts of meats and poultry. It's even good with eggs. (Although not with shrimp. Shrimp Creole is the most famous dish using this sauce, but in my opinion the worst.) My Creole sauce is made with a good bit of black pepper, which I think makes the difference. So does a short cooking time, which keeps it from becoming spaghetti sauce. This recipe makes a lot of it, but it freezes well. So you can jazz up whatever food for which you're at a loss for ideas.
- 1 Tbs. olive oil
- 1 medium finely chopped bell pepper
- 1 medium finely chopped white onion
- 2 ribs finely chopped celery
- 1/2 bunch finely chopped green onion
- 2 cloves finely chopped garlic
- 1 tsp. basil
- 1 tsp. thyme
- 2 oz. jalapeno pepper sauce
- 1 Tbs. brown sugar
- 2 28-oz. cans whole plum tomatoes, crushed by hand
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, chopped roughly
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 oz. Worcestershire
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 Tbs. coarsely-ground black pepper
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 Tbs. lemon juice, strained
1. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat until ti shimmers. Add the bell pepper, white onion, celery, green onions, and garlic, and cook, moving it around with a wooden spoon, for about five minutes.
2. Add all the other ingredients. Cook for about an hour minutes, stirring every few minutes. Remove the bay leaves. Add more salt to taste.
Makes about two quarts.