Shrimp Creole Soup with Bacon and Cheddar Dumplings: A Hearty Southern Comfort Food Recipe

Ingredients

For the Soup:

• 4 slices bacon
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup bell pepper, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon thyme, chopped
• 1/4 cup flour (or rice flour)
• 4 cups chicken broth (or shrimp broth)
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes (or 4 cups fresh tomatoes, diced)
• 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce

For the Dumplings:

• 3/4 cup flour (or rice flour)
• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk)
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/4 cup green onions, sliced

Additional Ingredients:

• 1 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined
• Salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste
• 1/2 cup green onions, sliced (for garnish)

Preparation

1. Cook the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving the grease in the pan.
2. Add the diced onion, celery, and bell pepper to the saucepan. Cook in the bacon grease over medium-high heat until tender and slightly golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Stir in the chopped garlic and thyme, cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes to create a roux.
5. Add 1/2 cup of the chicken broth and deglaze the pan by scraping up the browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Allow the broth to simmer.
6. Pour in the remaining chicken broth, diced tomatoes, Creole seasoning, bay leaves, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and fish sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
7. While the soup simmers, prepare the dumpling mixture. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, melted butter, buttermilk, shredded cheddar cheese, and sliced green onions. Crumble the reserved bacon into the mixture and stir until just combined.
8. Drop 1 tablespoon-sized balls of the dumpling dough into the simmering soup. Cook for 10 minutes, then gently flip the dumplings and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
9. Add the shelled and deveined shrimp to the soup and cook until they turn pink and are cooked through, about 3 minutes.
10. Season the soup with salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste. Serve hot, garnished with sliced green onions.

This Shrimp Creole Soup with Bacon and Cheddar Dumplings is a flavorful, comforting dish perfect for cozy evenings. The combination of spicy Creole flavors, tender shrimp, and cheesy dumplings makes it a crowd-pleaser. Enjoy this hearty soup as a satisfying meal on its own or paired with crusty bread for dipping!