Po' Boy Sandwich Recipe
The Po' Boy sandwich originated in New Orleans and is a classic Southern comfort food. It is typically made with either fried shrimp or oysters and served on a long, crusty baguette-style bread. The sandwich is then topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and a mayonnaise-based sauce, and can be customized with additional toppings such as hot sauce, cheese, and onions. Here's a recipe for a classic Po' Boy sandwich that serves four:
Ingredients:
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (or substitute with oysters)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Creole seasoning (such as Tony Chachere's)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust for spice level)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup buttermilk
Vegetable oil, for frying
4 French baguettes or sandwich rolls
Lettuce leaves
Sliced tomato
Sliced pickles
Mayonnaise-based sauce (recipe below)
Mayonnaise-based Sauce Ingredients:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Creole mustard (such as Zatarain's)
1 tablespoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 200°F to keep the cooked shrimp/oysters warm while you prepare the rest of the sandwich.
In a shallow dish, mix together the flour, Creole seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
Pour the buttermilk into another shallow dish.
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it reaches 375°F.
Dip each shrimp/oyster in the buttermilk and then coat in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
Fry the shrimp/oysters in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
To make the sauce, whisk together the mayonnaise, Creole mustard, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Cut the baguettes or sandwich rolls in half lengthwise and lightly toast.
Spread the sauce on the bottom half of each roll.
Layer lettuce, tomato, and pickles on top of the sauce.
Add the fried shrimp/oysters on top of the vegetables.
Close the sandwich with the top half of the roll.
Serve hot with additional hot sauce and pickles, if desired.
Calorie Intake: The calorie intake for this sandwich would depend on the type of bread and mayonnaise used. A typical French baguette contains around 300-400 calories, while a sandwich roll contains around 120-150 calories. The mayonnaise-based sauce contains around 50-100 calories per serving. The shrimp/oysters add around 150-200 calories per serving. Therefore, the total calorie intake would be around 500-800 calories per serving.
Allergy Concerns: This recipe contains shellfish and wheat, so it may not be suitable for those with allergies to these ingredients. For those with shellfish allergies, you can substitute the shrimp or oysters with chicken or fish. For those with wheat allergies or gluten intolerance, you can use gluten-free flour and bread.
Spicy Level: The level of spiciness can be adjusted to your taste. If you prefer a milder sandwich, you can reduce the amount of cayenne pepper in the seasoned flour mixture and the hot sauce in the mayonnaise-based sauce. If you prefer a spicier sandwich, you can increase the amount of cayenne pepper and add more hot sauce.
Healthy Alternatives: To make a healthier version of this sandwich, you can bake or grill the shrimp or oysters instead of frying them. You can also use a lighter bread such as a whole-grain baguette or ciabatta. Instead of the mayonnaise-based sauce, you can use a lighter dressing such as a vinaigrette or a yogurt-based sauce.
Kitchen Equipment: To make this sandwich, you will need a large skillet or Dutch oven for frying the shrimp/oysters, a shallow dish for the seasoned flour mixture, another shallow dish for the buttermilk, and a small bowl for the sauce. You will also need a slotted spoon for removing the shrimp/oysters from the oil and paper towels for draining.
Ingredients and Equipment on Amazon:
All-purpose flour: https://www.amazon.com/King-Arthur-Flour-All-Purpose/dp/B07DPVFJ6N
Creole seasoning: https://www.amazon.com/Tony-Chacheres-Original-Creole-Seasoning/dp/B00NQ5DIO2
Garlic powder: https://www.amazon.com/McCormick-Granulated-Garlic-Powder-21/dp/B005D6F4Y4
Onion powder: https://www.amazon.com/McCormick-Onion-Powder-7-62-Ounce-Plastic/dp/B005D6F2SO
Paprika: https://www.amazon.com/Simply-Organic-Paprika-2-96/dp/B000WS1KHM
Cayenne pepper: https://www.amazon.com/McCormick-Gourmet-Cayenne-Pepper-1-5/dp/B00I17ZKYW
Salt: https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Crystal-Kosher-Salt-3/dp/B00164V2NQ
Black pepper: https://www.amazon.com/McCormick-Black-Pepper-Adjustable-Grinder/dp/B06XCR8ZGJ
Buttermilk: https://www.amazon.com/Buttermilk-Powder-Made-from-Real-Sweet-Cream-11-25oz/dp/B07DVR6TXM
Vegetable oil: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonFresh-Canola-Vegetable-Oil-2-Pack/dp/B07HGRJF6S
French baguettes: https://www.amazon.com/French-Baguette-6-pack/dp/B07CHW3B3K
Sandwich rolls: https://www.amazon.com/Arnold-Sandwich-Thins-Multi-Grain-12-oz/dp/B08WRG7HJ6
Lettuce: https://www.amazon.com/Farmers-Market-Organic-Green-Leaves/dp/B08QNCVSSC
Tomato: https://www.amazon.com/Vine-Ripened-Organic-Tomatoes-Pint/dp/B07MDK7VJ5
Pickles: https://www.amazon.com/VlasicKosher-Dill-Pickles-24/dp/B07G7GGZGY
Mayonnaise: https://www.amazon.com/Hellmanns-Real-Mayonnaise-Squeeze-Bottle/dp/B089MQMM1J
Creole mustard: https://www.amazon.com/Zatarains-Creole-Mustard-12-Ounce-Squeeze/dp/B006WEFZDI
Hot sauce: https://www.amazon.com/Tabasco-Original-Flavor-Pepper-Sauce/dp/B08B2QK5NL
Worcestershire sauce: https://www.amazon.com/Lea-Perrins-Worcestershire-Sauce/dp/B01KOH1Z7O
Note: You can also find some of these ingredients at your local grocery store or online grocery delivery services. I hope you enjoy making and eating this classic Southern sandwich!