Shrimp creole and shrimp etouffee are somewhat similar dishes, and some people get the two dishes confused with each other.  The etouffee has more of a gravy consistency which means that it's thicker than shrimp creole. Another difference is that shrimp etouffee is a lot spicier than shrimp creole. Lastly, shrimp creole normally has a tomato base while shrimp etouffee utilizes a roux for its base.  Many true foodies and culinary experts will tell you that a true Cajun etouffee does not contain tomatoes. The addition of tomato is a Creole way of preparing the dish.