Master This Fried Shrimp Po'Boy Ahead of Mardi Gras (2024)

If you can't make it down to New Orleans for an authentic shrimp po'boy, don't worry—this recipe is the next best thing! Piled high with crispy fried shrimp on crusty French bread that'sslathered with a zesty, spicy mayo and dressed to perfection with lettuce, tomato, and pickle chips, it's the ultimatesandwich that's just as deliciousascheeseburgers and hoagies. If you're a fan ofshrimp recipesor are celebrating Mardi Gras from afar,this is definitely one to try!

Why is it called a po'boy?

Shortened from "poor boy," the name po'boy became attached to this delicious sandwich when it rose to fameduring a streetcar conductors' strike in New Orleans in the late 1920s. Originally intended as an inexpensive lunch that jazzed up leftover bread with flavorful toppings, po'boys—especially shrimp po'boys—have grown in popularity since their humble beginnings.

What's on a po'boy?

While oyster po'boys and roast beef po'boys with "debris" (gravy) are delicious, it's hard to beat a po'boy loaded with golden fried shrimp. Aside from the crispy fried shrimp, po'boys are loaded withshredded iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and, of course, that special sauce.

What is the best bread for po'boys?

It can be trickyto find authentic po'boy bread outside of New Orleans (pro tip: you can often find asimilar type of bread at Vietnamese grocery stores), but you can substitute French bread (the soft kind, not baguettes) to make a scrumptious po'boy. Hoagie rolls will work, too.

What's in po' boy sauce?

This po'boy sauce is based on a French-Cajun classic, remoulade. It's super easy to make—just spice up your favorite mayonnaise with some Creole seasoning and mustard, along with capers, hot sauce, horseradish, lemon, garlic, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Like everything Cajun, it's full of flavor and great with any kind of seafood or for dipping fries.

What do you eat with po'boys?

Sandwiches and potato chips are a match made in heaven, but if you want to step it up, a big bowl of creamy potato salad orpasta salad fresh from the fridge is a delicious balance to the hot, fried shrimp.

Yields:
6 serving(s)
Prep Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
30 mins

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

For the Sandwich:

  • Vegetableor peanut oil, for frying

  • 1 c.

    buttermilk

  • 2 c.

    yellow cornmeal

  • 2 Tbsp.

    Creole seasoning

  • 2 lb.

    medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

  • Salt, to taste

  • 6

    hoagie rolls or 6-inch pieces of French bread, split lengthwise

  • 3 c.

    shredded iceberg lettuce

  • 2

    tomatoes, thinly sliced

  • 1/2 c.

    dill pickle chips

  • Hot sauce, for serving

Directions

    1. Step1For the sauce: In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, mustard, capers, hot sauce, lemon juice, horseradish, Creole seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic until well combined. Set aside.
    2. Step2For the sandwich: In a large cast-iron skillet, heat 1 inch of oil over medium to 375°F. Place the buttermilk in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, stir together the cornmeal and Creole seasoning. Working in batches, dip the shrimp in the buttermilk, allowing the excess to drip off. Toss the shrimp in the cornmeal, shaking off the excess.
    3. Step3Working in batches, fry the shrimp until golden brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes, turning occasionally. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Season with salt.
    4. Step4Spread the cut sides of the rolls with the sauce. Top evenly with the lettuce, tomato, pickles, and fried shrimp. Serve with hot sauce and the remaining sauce on the side, if you like.

Tip: Use an instant read thermometer to keep an eye on the oil temperature when frying the shrimp, and adjust the heat as needed.

Master This Fried Shrimp Po'Boy Ahead of Mardi Gras (3)

Recipe bySloane Layton

Sloane Layton is a trained chef, recipe developer and regular contributor to ThePioneerWoman.com. An avid bread baker and pastry connoisseur, when she’s not proofing sourdough, she enjoys traveling, and is always on the hunt for the flakiest croissant.

Master This Fried Shrimp Po'Boy Ahead of Mardi Gras (2024)

FAQs

What was the original poor boy sandwich? ›

The poor boy sandwich was then created in 1929 when the Electric Street Railway employees went on strike, and the Martin brothers gave away sandwiches to the strikers. The original Martin poor boy sandwiches were typically fried potatoes, gravy, and spare bits of roast beef on French bread.

Why is a shrimp sandwich called a po-boy? ›

According to historian Errol Laborde, the correct way to refer to the sandwich is “poor boy” because it was created by the Martin brothers after the streetcar strikers – those “poor boys.” But whether it's referred to as a poor boy, po' boy, po-boy, or po boy, what everyone can agree on is that the famous sandwich ...

What is the best bread for po-boy? ›

Authentic New Orleans Shrimp Po' Boy with Creole Remoulade Sauce. Crispy cajun fried shrimp are piled on a french baguette and topped with a creole inspired creamy remoulade sauce creating the most delicious and authentic po'boy you will ever taste outside of NOLA!

What sandwich was invented in New Orleans? ›

The muffuletta is not the only sandwich that traces its roots back to New Orleans (count the po' boy in there, too), but it does come the closest to shouting, “You're in the Big Easy!” Its origin story is well told: Creator Salvatore Lupo was one of nearly 300,000 Sicilian immigrants who landed in New Orleans between ...

What is the meaning of poor boy? ›

Definitions of poor boy. a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States.

What is a po-boy in New Orleans? ›

What is a po-boy sandwich? Piled with lettuce, tomato and pickles and filled with roast beef, fried shrimp, oysters–or whatever you choose–po-boys are stuffed and slathered with sauce or mayonnaise, and then served between two long pieces of French bread.

What is po-boy sauce made of? ›

What's in po' boy sauce? This po'boy sauce is based on a French-Cajun classic, remoulade. It's super easy to make—just spice up your favorite mayonnaise with some Creole seasoning and mustard, along with capers, hot sauce, horseradish, lemon, garlic, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce.

What is the difference between a po-boy and a muffuletta? ›

New Orleans is home to both po'boy and muffuletta sandwiches, but aside from their hometown, the two iconic sandwiches don't have much in common. Most po'boys consist of fried shrimp on crusty, hoagie-style bread, while muffuletta sandwiches are made of Italian cold cuts and cheese on flat, sesame-crusted bread.

What is New Orleans bread called? ›

This thin-crusted variety of French Bread—more commonly known as the Baguette, Po' Boy Loaf or Sunday Cap Bread—is fundamental to the New Orleans gastronomy. Each version of the French bread is slightly different. The baguette is the traditional 18-inch loaf that is served in many New Orleans restaurants.

Which bread is better with peanut butter? ›

Brown bread and peanut butter are good sandwich combination as it offers a balanced mix of carbohydrates, healthy fats, protein, and fiber. By having one sandwich, one can get energy, feel satisfied and get nutrition.

What bread is best for PB&J? ›

As we have already discussed, it is vital for a PB&J to be made with soft, white bread.

What is po-boy short for? ›

A po' boy (also po-boy, po boy derived from the non-rhotic southern accents often heard in the region, or poor boy) is a sandwich originally from Louisiana.

How do you pronounce hi daddy? ›

hi, Daddy
  1. hay. dah. - di.
  2. haɪ dæ - ɾi.
  3. English Alphabet (ABC) hi. Da. - ddy.

Where does shrimp po-boy come from? ›

Stop Two: The Shrimp Po' Boy | Acadiana, Louisiana

Benny and Clovis Martin of Martin Brothers French Market Restaurant and Coffee Stand in New Orleans offered the sandwich free to union members and even developed a 40-inch loaf of bread, special ordered from John Gendusa Bakery, which is still in operation today.

What is the original Sloppy Joe sandwich? ›

The Sloppy Joe's history, however, is a bit more complex. Some attribute the original Sloppy Joe to a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa, where, many years ago, in 1930 a cook named Joe added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches. Voila: a new between-the-bread offering, and the sandwich's official name.

What was the original sandwich? ›

A Noble Beginning. In 1762, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich®, invented the meal that changed dining forever. As the story goes, he was playing cards and did not want to leave the gaming table to eat. He asked for a serving of roast beef to be placed between two slices of bread so he could eat with his hands.

What is considered a poor boy sandwich? ›

What is a po-boy sandwich? Piled with lettuce, tomato and pickles and filled with roast beef, fried shrimp, oysters–or whatever you choose–po-boys are stuffed and slathered with sauce or mayonnaise, and then served between two long pieces of French bread.

What was the prosperity sandwich in the 1920s? ›

Prosperity sandwich is a traditional American sandwich originating from St. Louis. Invented at the Mayfair Hotel in the 1920s, the sandwich consists of three slices of buttered toasted bread topped with a slice of ham and a slice of turkey.

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