Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Cajun Enchiladas

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, divided

1/2 cup yellow onion, small dice

1/2 cup canned jalapeños, drained and chopped fine

1/3 cup green bell pepper, small dice

1 Tbs Creole Seasoning, divided

1 1/2 cup whipping cream

1/2 cup sour cream

4 cups Monterey jack cheese, shredded and divided

1/2 pound fresh shrimp, 61/70 count

1/2 pound lump crab meat

1/2 pound peel crawfish tails

1/3 cup green onions, sliced thinly

8 – 8inch flour tortillas

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325

In a medium sauce pot, melt half of the butter over medium-high heat. Cook the onions, jalapeños, bell pepper and half of the Creole Seasoning for 3-4 minutes, stirring often to prevent the vegetables from browning. Add the whipping cream and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Add in the sour cream and half of the shredded cheese and stir with a wire whisk until the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and pour the mixture into a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

Melt the remaining butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the uncooked shrimp with the remaining Creole seasoning and sauté the seasoned shrimp for 3-5 minutes. Add in the crawfish tails, crab and green onions and cook for 2 minutes longer.

Fold the cooked seafood into the sour cream mixture.

Use a large spoon and place approximately 1/3 cup of the mixture into the center of each tortilla. Roll the tortillas and place them side by side in an 8×10 baking dish.

Spoon the remaining mixture over the top of the filled tortillas. Cover the baking dish with a piece of parchment paper, followed by aluminum foil. Use a small knife and make 4-5 small slits in the foil covering.

Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and parchment paper and sprinkle the top with the remaining shredded cheese. Bake for 10-12 more minutes.

Allow the enchiladas to rest for 15 minutes before serving.

Yield: 6-8 servings

Recent Recipes

Chocolate Christmas Cheesecake

Chef Linda Roderick has been by my side through these cookbooks for over two decades, and there’s no one I’d rather have guiding me through a cheesecake recipe. She’s a master of the craft—steady, exacting, and always aiming for perfection. This rich, decadent chocolate cheesecake is no exception. It's all about balance. The deep, smooth chocolate filling meets a crisp, slightly salty crust for a perfect bite every time. Ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing—otherwise, you’ll end up with lumps. And when you melt the chocolate, give it time to cool slightly before mixing it into the batter, so you don’t end up with curdled filling. It’s worth the patience, every time. A few techniques can elevate this recipe to another level: chilling the dough overnight for a richer flavor, using a water bath to ensure an ultra-smooth texture, and letting the cheesecake rest for at least 24 hours before serving for the best flavor.

Read more

Harrison’s Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Having a son who’s following in your footsteps is one thing. Watching him take what you’ve taught him and elevate it to something even better—that’s special. During his Christmas break from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York, a few years ago, he nudged me out of the way and made these mashed potatoes. I was skeptical, of course as I’ve been making mashed potatoes for decades. But there was no question his version was better. There’s a lot of pride in seeing him excel in the kitchen, making something as simple as mashed potatoes taste extraordinary. This recipe has become a new tradition in our family. Watching him cook now, with all that skill and precision, is a proud moment for me every time. This is his recipe, and I’ve adopted it as my own.

Read more

Macaroni and Cheese

Growing up, elaborate mac & cheese wasn’t something that made its way to our dinner table. That’s not some sort of elitist statement. We grew up in a very modest way. It’s just that macaroni and cheese was something my mom never purchased at the store and therefore never served. This recipe is rich and indulgent with a blend of cheeses that create a creamy, savory masterpiece. Adding crispy fried shallots or crumbled bacon to the breadcrumb topping gives it a savory, satisfying crunch. The blend of cheeses—Velveeta for creaminess, Gruyere for nuttiness, Cheddar for sharpness, and Colby Jack for that buttery melt—makes all the difference.

Read more