Add butter to a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic and sauté until veggies are lightly browned.
In a small bowl whisk together the thyme, salt, pepper, cayenne and flour. Stir into onion mixture and cook for 2 minutes.
Deglaze the pan with wine (if using) and then add chicken stock, tomatoes, bay leaves and hot sauce. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove bay leaves. Add shrimp and cook until pink, just 3-4 minutes.
Serve over hot cooked rice and garnish with green onion.
Video
Notes
Add In's and Variations:
Bacon
Sausage
Crawfish
Chicken creole- substitute chicken for shrimp
Seafood creole- Add scallops and haddock
Catfish creole- substitute catfish for shrimp
To substitute rice- Serve over mashed potatoes or pasta
Make-ahead Instructions: The sauce is almost better made ahead of time and allowing the flavors to settle. To make ahead, prepare the sauce as instructed but don't add the shrimp. Refrigerate for 1-2 days and return to pan to simmer before adding shrimp. Freezing Instructions: make the sauce but don't add the shrimp. Freeze the sauce in a freezer safe bag or container for 2-3 months. To reheat, allow sauce to thaw, simmer in saucepan, and add shrimp, cooking until pink. *nutrition info does not include rice