Some of the most popular Cajun and Creole dishes call for a long list of ingredients and require hours of simmering over the stove to blend the flavors before serving. Dishes such as Seafood Gumbo, Shrimp Creole and Jambalaya are usually off limits to busy cooks with little time to spend in the kitchen. By preparing this Creole Sauce Module ahead, however, these dishes, along with numerous others, can be prepared in 30 minutes or less, making them suitable even for weeknight dinners.

Since many Cajun and Creole dishes start with what chefs call the “Cajun Holy Trinity,” consisting of onions, green peppers, and celery (with a generous sprinkling of garlic), added to a mixture of tomatoes and spices, it’s possible to make a large batch of this base sauce ahead and freeze it in recipe-size portions. When it’s time to fix dinner, the sauce can be combined with a few other ingredients to create authentic dishes in minimal hands-on time.

This Creole Sauce Module is prepared in a slow cooker, so once the ingredients are assembled, no other work is involved except to put the sauce in freezer bags or plastic containers.

Basic Creole Sauce

Makes 16 Cups Sauce

4 cups finely chopped onions
3 green bell peppers, chopped
2 cups celery, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 No. 10 can crushed tomatoes, (106 ounces)
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon sugar
8 bay leaves
1 8 oz. can tomato paste

1. Place all of the ingredients in a 6-8 quart slow cooker.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Turn the slow cooker to low and cook 8-10 hours (high 4-6 hours).
4. Taste for seasoning, then tilt the lid slightly, turn the heat to high, and let cook until slightly thickened, 1-2 additional hours.
5. Divide the mixture into freezer bags in two, three, or four cup measures, depending on the recipes you plan to prepare.

Amount Per 1/2 cup Serving:
Calories 25 Calories from Fat 2
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 7% Protein 12% Carb. 81%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 0 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 339 mg
Total Carbohydrate 5 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 1 g

Vitamin A 6% Vitamin C 19% Calcium 0% Iron 4%