Fish In Red Gravy was one of my Mawmaw Trahan's best dishes and is a family favorite still today. Its red tomato sauce and seasonings simmer for hours, achieving a deep rich taste before adding fish fillets such as redfish or catfish. This simple yet very satisfying stew is a pleasant alternative to the fried fish dinner.
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Rice Farming And Fishing
My grandfather, Romeal Trahan, was part of a large family that lived on a rice farm just below Highway 335, south of Kaplan, Louisiana. He and four of his brothers married and homesteaded in that area. They grew rice and raised cattle while accumulating more land and living near each other. They may not have been given much choice in careers, but maybe they chose rice farming because of the wholesome lifestyle it offers.
There wasn't much the Trahan brothers and their families didn't do together. They worked, went to church and school, attended social events, and shopped in the same stores in the same town. This made for a close-knit community.
I enjoy hearing stories of life lived back then. Mama said they had a strong sense of freedom. They could venture out into the woods and fields around them. Whether riding horses or swimming in the freshly pumped, well-watered canal, they had plenty of siblings and cousins to do it with. They always felt protected. It seems their parents weren't filled with anxiety, and if so, it was never demonstrated before them. Oh, that we would give that to our children today!
There was an entertaining event the Trahan brothers did together, and that was fishing in Vermilion Bay. On one occasion, they decided to invite their wives, sending the sisters-in-law shopping for something they did not own. A pair of pants. At that time, ladies wore dresses. A house dress for day work, dresses, and suits with skirts to attend church, funerals, weddings, and other such places. I rarely remember seeing Maw-maw or my great-aunts in a pair of pants.
One afternoon, we had driven into my grandparents' driveway when the men returned from one of those fishing trips. Pawpaw and some other menfolk were outside unloading the fish, and I remember the excitement of greeting them and seeing their fresh catch.
Passing Down The Fish And Red Gravy Recipe
I vividly recall my Mawmaw standing at the stove stirring in her large Magnalite pot that held her special red tomato gravy for those fish. She cooked it low and slow so the seasonings and vegetables could meld together, and of course, she always started with a roux and the Cajun trinity!
Mama taught me how to make this same fish stew. There was never a written recipe, so I've nailed down the ingredients and directions to happily pass them on to you!
We begin with seasoning the fish first. I usually use my House Seasoning Blend of salt, garlic granules, and cayenne pepper. You can do the same, but recently I've discovered a white pepper seasoning blend made by Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning Company. It has a simple combination of salt, red pepper, white pepper, and garlic.
It doesn't take away from the taste of the food but adds just enough of that "SLAP" of seasoning you want in your fish dish. And it's delicious on your morning eggs, too!
After the seasoning, make a roux. Then add the vegetables and more seasonings and simmer for at least a couple of hours. Lastly, add the fish to the pot. After the fish cooks for about a half-hour, it's ready to serve on a heaping bed of cooked rice.
For another classic Cajun fish recipe, you can check out this Fish Court-Bouillon. Here, you cook the fish in a white sauce. Or, if you have lots of fish in your freezer, how about Fish Cakes Made With Sacalait? It's similar to a crab cake. These are just a few more ways to enjoy fish, whether it's your own fresh catch or from your grocer's freezer.
More Recipes From My Mawmaw At Louisiana Woman
- Mawmaw’s Fresh Apple Cake
- Congealed Salad, Lime Or Cherry Flavored
- Best Chocolate Cake Recipe
- Noelie’s Pecan Pralines
Fish In Red Gravy
A classic Cajun fish stew of flavorfully rich, thick tomato gravy served over rice.
- Total Time: 46 minute
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 3 pounds of any firm-textured fish
- Slap Ya Mama White Pepper Blend Cajun seasoning
- ⅓ cup oil
- ⅓ cup flour
- ¾ cup bell peppers, chopped
- ¾ cup celery, chopped
- 1 ½ cup onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, pressed
- 2 15-ounce cans crushed stewed tomatoes
- 2 4-ounce cans green chilies, chopped
- ¾ teaspoon, Slap Ya Mama White Pepper Blend Cajun Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Lightly season fish with Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning set aside.
- In a large, heavy pot, make a roux by heating the oil, then adding the flour and stirring on medium heat until the roux is a dark caramel color.
- Add vegetables and cook for 10 minutes on medium-low heat, often stirring, cooking the vegetables in the roux until they are soft.
- Add tomatoes, green chilies, and seasonings to simmer on low heat for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally, or transfer into a crockpot and cook on high for at least a few hours.
- When using a slow cooker, transfer the gravy from the crockpot back to the large, heavy pot.
- Gravy should be thick and darker than when you began.
- Add the seasoned fish to the rich red gravy and cook on medium-low heat for 30 minutes or until the fish is done.
- Garnish with parsley and serve fish with gravy over rice.
Notes
- Take your time not to burn the roux.
- The fish will release liquid into the gravy, so there's no need to add water to this dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours and 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Cajun
I hope you enjoyed some of my reminiscings and will cook up some Fish In Red Gravy for yourself.
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Ellen says
Do not like fish (only shellfish) and am from La. Want to attempt to like fish. Trying Red Gravy and fish recipe. Calls for 2 14 oz cans crushed stewed tomatoes. Confused. Crushed tomatoes versus stewed tomatoes. Only have two 14 oz cans whole stewed tomatoes. Planning to crush these. Should I also include the juice?