Servings: 8

1 stick Butter 1 stick Butter
1 large Onion, diced 1 large Onion, diced
1 medium Green Bell Pepper, diced 1 medium Green Bell Pepper, diced
 
6 cloves Garlic, pressed 6 cloves Garlic, pressed
 
28 ounces Tomato Sauce 28 ounces Tomato Sauce
3 cups Water 3 cups Water
2 Dried Whole Bay Leaves 2 Dried Whole Bay Leaves
1 1⁄ 2 teaspoons Sugar 1 1⁄ 2 teaspoons Sugar
1⁄ 2 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, or to taste 1⁄ 2 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, or to taste
3⁄ 4 teaspoon Lemon Juice 3⁄ 4 teaspoon Lemon Juice
3⁄ 4 teaspoon Hot Pepper Sauce, such as Frank's Red Hot sauce 3⁄ 4 teaspoon Hot Pepper Sauce, such as Frank's Red Hot sauce
Salt, to taste Salt, to taste
Ground Black Pepper, to taste Ground Black Pepper, to taste
 
3 pounds Raw Shrimp, peeled and deveined 3 pounds Raw Shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tablespoons Fresh Parsley, chopped 3 tablespoons Fresh Parsley, chopped
 
White Rice, cooked White Rice, cooked
Hot Pepper Sauce, optional Hot Pepper Sauce, optional

In a 5-quart Dutch Oven, saute the onion and bell pepper in the butter until softened.
Add the crushed garlic and saute just a few more minutes.
Stir in tomato sauce, water, bay leaves, sugar, red pepper flakes, lemon juice and hot pepper sauce. Season with a bit of salt and pepper. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the shrimp and parsley. Cover and simmer an additional 25 minutes or until shrimp is cooked through. Remove bay leaves.
Serve over hot white rice. For those that like it spicier, hot pepper sauce can be added at the table.

This version is what I use when we go to the beach. It is in parts double and in other parts triple the original recipe. The three pounds of shrimp listed is if already headed. If buying shrimp with heads you need more like 5 pounds.  This version is what I use when we go to the beach. It is in parts double and in other parts triple the original recipe. The three pounds of shrimp listed is if already headed. If buying shrimp with heads you need more like 5 pounds.