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Dinner recipe · from the recipe book

Shrimp Creole Rice Bake with Pepita Crust

Tender rice baked in a smoky, peppery Creole tomato sauce with juicy shrimp under a crunchy toasted pumpkin and sesame seed crust.

Shrimp Creole Rice Bake with Pepita Crust

Ingredients

  • 1¼ lb560 gShrimptails removed
  • 1 cup200 gLong-grain white rice, dryrinsed
  • 14½ oz411 gDiced tomatoes, canned
  • 1½ cups360 gLow-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp30 gTomato paste
  • 1 medium110 gYellow oniondiced
  • 2 stalks80 gCelerydiced
  • 1 medium119 gGreen bell pepperdiced
  • 3 cloves9 gGarlicminced
  • 2 tbsp25 gOlive oildivided
  • 1¾ tsp4 gPaprika (sweet or smoked)
  • 1 tsp1 gDried thyme
  • ½ tsp1 gCrushed red pepper
  • ¼ tsp2 gSalt
  • ½ tsp1 gBlack pepper
  • ⅓ cup40 gPumpkin seeds (pepitas)roughly chopped
  • 1½ tbsp15 gSesame seeds
  • ¼ cup30 gPlain dry breadcrumbs
  • 3 tbsp grated20 gGrated Parmesan
  • 2 medium30 gGreen onionsthinly sliced

Steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Dice the yellow onion, celery and green bell pepper, mince the garlic, thinly slice the green onions, and rinse the rice.
  2. Heat 15 g of the olive oil (about three-fifths) in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the yellow onion, celery and green bell pepper and cook 6 minutes until softened.
  3. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, paprika, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Stir in the rice, then add the diced tomatoes and chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
  5. Pour the rice mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish, cover tightly with foil and bake 35 minutes, until the rice is nearly tender.
  6. Meanwhile, make the seed crust: in a small bowl, mix the pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, breadcrumbs, Parmesan and the remaining 10 g of olive oil.
  7. Uncover the dish, stir, and press the shrimp into the rice in a single layer. Scatter the seed crust evenly over the top.
  8. Bake uncovered 12 to 15 minutes, until the shrimp are pink and opaque (145°F / 63°C) and the crust is golden.
  9. Rest 5 minutes, then sprinkle with the green onions and serve.

Contains: Milk, Shellfish, Gluten, Sesame. Some brands contain egg, soy.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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