Baked catfish creole

6 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
¾cupMelted butter
1cupChopped onions
1cupChopped celery
½cupChopped bell pepper
¼cupDiced garlic
2Bay leaves
2cansTomato sauce (8 oz)
1cupFish stock
45-8 oz catfish fillets
1cup90-110 count shrimp (peeled
And deveined)
½teaspoonSugar
1pinchDry thyme
1pinchDry basil
1cupChopped green onions
½cupChopped parsley
Salt and cracked black
Pepper to taste
Reserved Creole sauce
4cupsCooked white rice
¼cupChopped parsley

Directions

FOR SAUCE

FOR COOKING

FOR SAUCE: In a two quart heavy sauce pan, melt butter over medium high heat. Saute onions, celery, bell pepper, garlic and bay leaves until vegetables are wilted, approximately three to five minutes. Add tomato sauce and fish stock, bring to a low boil, reduce to simmer and cook thirty minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sugar, thyme, basil, green onions and parsley. Continue to cook ten additional minutes and season to taste using salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside. FOR COOKING: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place catfish fillets in an ovenproof casserole dish large enough to hold the four fillets. Sprinkle the shrimp evenly over the top of the fillets. Spoon the Creole sauce generously until fish and shrimp are well covered. Place covered baking dish in oven and cook approximately thirty minutes or until fish is done. Heat rice under hot tap water and place an equal amount in the center of each serving plate. Serve catfish Creole on top of white rice and garnish with chopped parsley. This dish may also be served over pasta.