Cajun Shrimp Stew

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 medium onion
• chopped
• 1 small celery rib
• finely chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
• 1 cup bottled clam juice (8 fluid ounces)
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 1/4 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp (21 to 25 per pound)
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced scallion greens
• Accompaniment: white rice

Instructions

1. 1

   Stir together oil and flour in a 10-inch heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) with a metal or wooden spatula, then cook over moderate heat, scraping back and forth constantly, until roux is the color of light milk chocolate, 10 to 12 minutes.

2. 2

   Add onion, celery, and bell pepper and cook, scraping back and forth occasionally, until bell pepper is softened, about 8 minutes.

3. 3

   Stir in clam juice, water, salt, and cayenne and simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.

4. 4

   Stir in shrimp and simmer, stirring occasionally, until shrimp is just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes.

5. 5

   Stir in scallion greens and salt to taste.