Within the USA, there seem to be two major schools of thought on how to stuff a shrimp (prawn). In New England, most recipes call for crushed Ritz crackers in the ingredient list, and then the shrimp are usually baked. (Parenthetically, Ritz crackers seem to be a basic staple in New England.) Along the Gulf Coast, especially in Louisiana, shrimp are stuffed with a spicy crab mixture and then deep-fried.
My first experience with crab-stuffed shrimp was at Freeman and Harris Café in Shreveport, Louisiana. It is claimed that at one time Freeman and Harris, established in 1921, was the first and longest operating African-American-owned restaurant in the United States. Those seem likely to be highly arguable claims, but what is not arguable is that the food was delicious. Even though the café was located in a poor black section of Shreveport (Saint Paul’s Bottoms or just “The Bottoms”, later renamed Ledbetter Heights), the food attracted politicians, business people, and prominent citizens – black and white – to enjoy chicken and dumplings specially prepared one day a week, other Southern favorites, and the cafe’s famous crab-stuffed shrimp.
Freeman and Harris long ago became Pete Harris’s Café and then eventually closed. But even today descendants of the original families and some of the early cooks still serve up their versions of the stuffed shrimp, to the point that locals think of them as Shreveport-Style Stuffed Shrimp.
This recipe is a pale imitation of the stuffed shrimp I first ate at Freeman and Harris, but it still brings to mind Louisiana cooking.
RECIPES
Crab Stuffing
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup finely chopped celery
- ½ cup finely chopped bell pepper (I used miniature red, orange, and yellow “snacking” bell peppers, but you may use whatever you prefer.)
- ½ cup finely chopped green onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled between your hands
- 6 ounces crabmeat
- ¼ cup dry breadcrumbs
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- salt
Method
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the celery, bell pepper, onion, and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are wilted and the onions are translucent.
- Stir in the garlic powder, black and red pepper, and oregano. Remove from the heat and stir in the crabmeat, breadcrumbs, and Worcestershire sauce. Adjust the seasoning with the salt.
- Refrigerate until ready to use.
Crab-Stuffed Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound of unshelled extra-large shrimp (13-15/pound or larger)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- cayenne pepper (optional and to your taste)
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1½ teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground thyme
- ¼ teaspoon ground oregano
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg beaten
- fine bread crumbs
- peanut oil for deep frying
Method
- Shell and de-vein the shrimp, leaving the tail.
- With a small, sharp knife butterfly the shrimp by cutting along the central line, being careful not to cut completely through. Open like a book. and set aside. You may see another black line (not the intestine. This is the shrimp’s nervous system, so don’t worry about it.)
- In a small bowl, combine the pepper(s), salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and oregano. Reserve 2 teaspoons for sprinkling on the shrimp.
- Combine the flour with the remaining seasoning mixture. Place the seasoned flour in a bowl or pie pan.
- In another bowl or pie pan, combine the milk and beaten egg.
- Put a good amount of breadcrumbs in another bowl or pie pan.
- Sprinkle the shrimp with the reserved seasoning mix.
- Place a generous tablespoonful of the reserved crab mixture on each of the butterflied shrimp. Press firmly so that the crab mixture sticks to the shrimp.
- Working in batches, dip the stuffed shrimp in the flour mixture, then in the milk and egg mixture, again in the four, and then in the breadcrumbs.
- Have ready about 1-2 inches of oil heated to 350°F in a deep, heavy-bottomed pan.
- Fry the shrimp, 3 or 4 at a time, until browned on all sides. Drain on layers of paper towels and keep warm in the oven until all the shrimp are fried.
- Serve immediately with your favorite seafood sauce – tartar, cocktail, etc. Allow 3 to 5 stuffed shrimp for each serving.
From the Family Table 
What a wonderful recipe! Prawns happen to be my favorite ingredient, this flavorful way to cook them Lousiana style is new to me – sounds amazing!
Thanks for your very generous comment. Hope you give the recipe a try.
Nice storytelling about Freeman and Harris. 🙂 I can see why you have fond memories of LA. The recipes look tasty and the photos are vibrant!
Thanks, Shanna, for your very kind comments. Fellowship Day grows ever closer!
This is an excellent recipe. I love seafood and this is a double bonanza. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you.
I live in a suburb of Shreveport, my husband’s hometown. Our first visit together was the Freeman Harris dining experience in April, 1973. After thorougly enjoying the Isaac Hayes ‘Hot Buttered Soul’ concert with 2 cousins, we had Stuffed Shrimp at Freeman’s. A dozen shrimp, fries, toast and four beers was just under $20! We returned home to Compton, CA, returned to LA in 1979, sold all our property in 1981 and have been here happily ever since. Of course, my fav place to have lunch from my advertising job at the Shreveport Times and Journal was Freeman’s and Banks BBQ on Milam St. My heart broke when it shut down, and my friend June, stopped coming out from California, just to eat Stuffed Shrimp at Freemans (to see us too, of course). I use white bread in the stuffing and highly seasoned creole seasoned cornmeal and flour for the crust. Today is Friday, I think I’ll run to the store and get some shrimp to go with the fresh-caught Buffalo fish ribs that my fishman, Weyland, brought over yesterday. I love Louisiana!
Thanks for your comment and for your interesting remembrances. The last time I visited Shreveport I was disappointed to learn that Freeman and Harris had closed. As you suggest, it was a real one-of-a-kind place. But one thing is certain, a person doesn’t lack for good food in Louisiana.
Your article lmade me smile. I Remember Freeman and Harris as a kid and even though I live on the East Coast now and have been around the world, nothing has been as good as Freeman and Harris! I too was heartbroken to find out they closed . I thought they be there Forever! Thank you for a sweet memory 2. My dad would take the family every other Friday. The best of times!
Thanks for your comment, Dee. For me, Freeman and Harris is another time and another world when we all got along over a bowl of chicken and dumplings. I yearn for the return of days like those.
Me and my mother would come down to Shreveport to visit from Norfork Nebraska I was born in Shreveport Louisiana and we go to Freeman and harris every chance I got I so crave the catfish and french fries in the special tartar sauce we eat that with or without fish the bread with the fish or without it sometimes even with the fried chicken I still crave the taste I sometimes look on the Internet for the recipe for that tartar sauce oh how I miss Freeman and Harris so sad to know that it had closed I was still in Shreveport at the time.
Thanks for your nice comment and for sharing your memories. There are many folks who are sad that Freeman and Harris closed. The lunch specials were always so good: chicken and dumplings, stuffed shrimp, catfish, etc., etc. But you had to get there early or they’d be sold out.
I was born and raised in Shreveport. Louisiana and enjoyed many Sundays with my Mom and Dad at Freeman and Harris. When I joined the Army, I would always come home on Leave and go straight there for some Stuffed Shrimp. Luckily there is a Restaurant (someone in the Family) that still serve those Tasty Shrimp. I love that place!! it is always busy.
Thanks for the tip. I have not heard of the restaurant but I haven’t lived in Shreveport for many years. Freeman and Harris was such an important part of Shreveport for a very long time.