Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich

Make this classic Louisiana sandwich at home with fried shrimp, shredded lettuce, tomato and homemade remoulade sauce.

By
Hank Shaw
Hank Shaw
Hank Shaw
Hank has authored five cookbooks, the latest in 2021. His website Hunter Angler Gardener Cook won Best Food Blog by the James Beard Foundation in 2013.
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Updated December 17, 2024
Hank Shaw

What's not to love about the classic Louisiana po boy sandwich? Most are dead simple, and rely heavily on high-quality ingredients: Super-fresh, local seafood, Creole tomatoes, homemade remoulade sauce, and surpassing bread.

Classic Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich on a Plate

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

What's a Po Boy?

Po boy sandwiches are typically either seafood or roast beef (although I had a roast duck po boy near Grand Isle, Louisiana recently), and the best ones use remoulade, a Cajun version of the classic French mayo-mustard sauce.

But the bread is the real star in a po boy. Do your utmost to find really good bread, with a crackling crust and soft interior. Ideally you would use a French sandwich loaf, like a baguette, but wider and about a foot long. Without good bread, a po boy is pretty po'.

The Best Shrimp Sandwich

Shrimp po boys are served everywhere in Louisiana, but you can also do the same things with crawfish tails, catfish fillets or oysters—all are common in the Sportsman's Paradise. Most are fried, but I've seen grilled seafood occasionally.

A word on the peanut oil: It is a very common cooking oil in Louisiana, and adds a flavor that will make your shrimp taste more of the Bayou. Personally, if I could not get peanut oil, I'd use lard. But that's just me. Any vegetable oil will work just fine.

Classic Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich on a Plate, Surrounded by Glasses of Beer, Another Plate with a Halved Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich, and a Small Saucer of Remoulade

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Reader Praise for This Recipe

  • Dave says, "Made this as written except for using homemade Emeril spice instead of Cajun. The fried shrimp with the cornmeal and flour coating are outrageous. I'll be making this one on a regular basis."
  • April says, "This was GREAT!! Loved this sandwich, thank you!"
  • Calie says, "I made this yesterday and it was delicious! The remoulade was on the salty side so I didn't add salt to the dredge. I used panko instead of cornmeal. I used a french baguette and omitted the lettuce and tomato. Since I have leftover remoulade and the recipe was so good, I'll be making it again tonight!"
  • Viv says, "Just perfect. A family favorite now."
From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Servings 4 servings

If you can't get peanut oil, use any other vegetable oil or lard. And if you don't feel like making remoulade, smear the top of the bread with mayo and the bottom with mustard.

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound medium shrimp, shelled, deveined, and tails removed

  • 3/4 cup fine cornmeal

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 2 eggs, beaten

  • Peanut oil for frying

  • 1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded

  • 2 to 3 tomatoes, sliced about 1/4 inch thick

  • 4 small French sandwich rolls

Remoulade

  • 1/4 cup mustard, preferably Creole mustard

  • 1 1/4 cups mayonnaise

  • 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish

  • 1 teaspoon pickle juice or vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Crystal or Tabasco)

  • 1 large clove garlic, minced and smashed

  • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning

Method

  1. Make the remoulade sauce:

    If you are making your own remoulade, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and set aside for 30 minutes or so; you don't have to wait that long, but the sauce will be better over time.

    Remoulade for Classic Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  2. Heat the oil in the pan:

    Pour enough peanut oil in a large frying pan to come up about 1/4 inch, and set the pan over medium-high heat until a small amount of flour sizzles immediately when you drop some in.

  3. Dredge the shrimp:

    Mix the cornmeal, flour, Cajun seasoning and salt in a large bowl. Working with a few at a time, dredge the shrimp in the egg, then in the cornmeal-flour mixture.

    Bowls of Dredging Ingredients for Shrimp Po Boy

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  4. Fry the shrimp:

    Shake off any excess breading and fry the shrimp until golden on both sides, about 2 minutes total. Set the fried shrimp aside on paper towels to drain.

    Dredged Shrimp Added to Pot of Hot Oil for Po Boy Sandwich

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    Shrimp Frying in Hot Oil for Po Boy

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    Cooked Shrimp on Plate with Paper Towel for Po Boy Sandwich Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  5. Assemble the sandwiches:

    To assemble the sandwiches, slice the sandwich loaves almost all the way through and smear remoulade on both the top and bottom.

    Lay down a layer of shredded lettuce on the bottom of the sandwich, then arrange the shrimp on top.

    Lay 3-4 slices of tomato on the shrimp and press the top of the bread down on the bottom, compressing the sandwich a little.

    Serve at once with hot sauce and, if you know what's good, a beer.

    Did you love this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

    Building the Classic Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich: Remoulade and Shredded Lettuce Added Bread

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    Building the Classic Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich: Shrimp Added to Bread

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    Building the Classic Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich: Tomatoes Added to Sandwich

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    How to Make a Classic Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
881 Calories
43g Fat
82g Carbs
42g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 881
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 43g 55%
Saturated Fat 8g 39%
Cholesterol 344mg 115%
Sodium 3286mg 143%
Total Carbohydrate 82g 30%
Dietary Fiber 9g 30%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 42g
Vitamin C 26mg 128%
Calcium 232mg 18%
Iron 6mg 32%
Potassium 994mg 21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.