Creole "Red" Gravy
Creole Sauce is extremely verstile in NOLA Cuisine and Louisiana cooking in general. It is the basis for so many dishes, when you come right down to it, with just slight variations for each, so I’m going to try to break this down as I see it, but first things first. My recipe for Creole Sauce. This is a loose recipe, keep in mind everyone has their own, whether they call it Red Gravy, Creole Tomato Sauce, Sauce Piquant (which isn’t exactly the same but darned similar), but they all contain the same basic ingredients:
Tomatoes, Holy Trinity (Onion, Celery, Bell Pepper), Garlic, Some kind of Stock (usually chicken, more on this later), Cayenne, Hot Sauce, Bay Leaf, Seasonings (Salt & pepper or maybe a Creole seasoning, almost always Thyme), Green Onions and Parsley.
These are what I consider the basics for a Creole Sauce. Here is how I make a small batch (it’s usually just my wife and I, so this makes enough for dinner and a little left over for use in another recipe) of basic Creole Sauce:
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion Julienned
- 2 Stalks Celery Julienned
- 1 small Bell Pepper Julienned
- 1 Tbsp Garlic minced
- 1 14.5 oz can Can Diced Tomatoes or Same amount Fresh from the Garden
- 2 cups Stock to cover about 2 cups
- 2 Fresh Bay leaves
- salt Black Pepper, Thyme (dried), Cayenne, White Pepper all To Taste
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- Hot Sauce To Taste (I use Crystal Hot Sauce)
- 2 Tbsp Flat Leaf Parsley Chopped
- 3 Thinly sliced Green Onions
- 2 tbsp Corn Starch Slurry or Dark Roux
Instructions
- Heat the oil over medium heat, add the Trinity and saute until slightly wilted. Add the Garlic and Tomatoes and cook for about 1-2 minutes. Cover with the stock by 1/2 inch, add Bay Leaves and a small amount of seasoning, bring to a boil; lower to a simmer. If using Roux, add at this point. Not too much, maybe 1-2 Tablespoons. If it gets too thick, add a little more stock or water. It should be loose but not too watery. Simmer about 20 minutes. Add the seasonings and Hot sauce to taste. Add the Worcestershire Sauce, Parsley and Green Onions. If using the slurry, Bring to a boil then add the slurry, a little at a time until it is the right consistency. It should be tight, but not watery. Not too thick, not too thin. Remove the Bay leaves.
Video
Notes
**Note** If you don’t want to use a thickening agent, simply reduce the sauce until it is the correct consistency.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
My Mother used to make red gravy, chicken and rice all the time. I am a good cook and can usually duplicate pretty much anything. I didnt watch her make this so Im a little perplexed. I know way back when she probably only used a roux and tomatoe paste. Her gravy was a little orange in color. Your video has definitely helped me in the right direction. To this day I can taste it, I just cannot duplicate it. lol Thanks Crystal King
Thank you for your comment!