Description
A New Orleans po’ boy is a traditional Louisiana sandwich built on a specific style of wide French bread that features a thin, crispy crust and an airy, light interior. The defining element of this classic meal is its generous filling, which most commonly consists of cornmeal-crusted fried shrimp, fried oysters, crispy catfish, or slow-cooked roast beef slathered in rich gravy. When ordered dressed in local eateries, the sandwich comes fully loaded with creamy remoulade sauce, shredded iceberg lettuce, ripe tomato slices, and tart dill pickles.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Shrimp
- 1 lb (450 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup cornmeal
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Remoulade Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
For Assembly
- 4 crusty French rolls or po’ boy loaves
- Shredded lettuce
- 1 large tomato, sliced
- Dill pickle slices
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Make the sauce: Mix mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, pickle relish, lemon juice, Cajun seasoning, and garlic powder. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Season the shrimp: Place shrimp in a bowl with buttermilk and let them marinate for 10–15 minutes.
- Prepare the coating: In another bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, paprika, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Coat the shrimp: Remove shrimp from the buttermilk and toss thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture.
- Fry: Heat about 1½ inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry shrimp in batches for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Toast the bread: Lightly toast the French rolls until crisp on the outside but still soft inside.
- Assemble: Spread remoulade sauce generously over the bread. Add lettuce, tomato, pickles, and crispy shrimp.
- Serve: Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon and serve immediately.
Notes
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Deep-frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 680 kcal