Crawfish is truly unique delicacy that stands out in the world of seafood. If you’re a fan of crawfish but need some inspiration on how to prepare it, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of five delicious ways to cook crawfish, so you’ll be a pro in no time.
1. Crawfish Boil
First things first — before preparing any crawfish meal, it’s important to thoroughly wash it, remove any dirt, and check that each one is in good condition. This is an essential part of making a crawfish boil. Make sure to drain the crawfish and repeat the process until they’re all clean. Boil the crawfish for about five minutes or until they turn bright red. Add your other ingredients and seasonings to the boiling water— corn, potatoes, sausages, etc. Start with the ingredients that take longer to cook, then add the rest. The choice and amount of seasoning are entirely up to you.
2. Crawfish Étouffée
Crawfish étouffée is a Louisiana classic that’s perfect for any occasion. If you’ve ever visited Louisiana, you know just how special this dish is! It’s a tasty meal featuring crawfish in a rich gravy served over a bed of white rice. To get started, you’ll need butter, all-purpose flour, onion, celery, bell peppers, garlic, and your choice of stock. Feel free to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. Season with Cajun or Creole seasoning, and if you like a bit of heat, add some cayenne pepper. Don’t forget the salt, pepper, parsley, and, of course, rice.
Start by making the gravy: melt the butter, add the flour, and stir for about five minutes until it turns golden. Cook the vegetables until they soften, about five minutes. Then, add stock and seasoning, bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce the heat to let it simmer for 20 minutes. Finally, stir in the crawfish and parsley, and your crawfish étouffée is ready to serve.
3. Crawfish Fettuccine
If you’ve made pasta before, this recipe should be a breeze. Start with your choice of noodles and make your Alfredo sauce from scratch, or use a store-bought version. Add onions, bell peppers, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, peeled crawfish tails, and lots of Parmesan cheese to level up the flavor. Adjust the seasoning to your taste, and enjoy!
4. Crockpot Crawfish Chowder
It’s time to break out the crock pot for this delicious and easy recipe. You’ll need crawfish tail meat, butter, two cans of mushroom or chicken soup, cream of potato soup, softened cream cheese, half-and-half cream, and minced garlic. Additional ingredients include a can of corn, cayenne pepper, Old Bay seasoning, chili powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
Start by cooking the crawfish, butter, and garlic in a skillet for about 20 minutes. Once done, transfer the cooked crawfish to the crockpot and add all the other ingredients. Stir occasionally and let it cook for about four to six hours.
5. Crawfish Dip
This recipe calls for quite a few ingredients, but we promise it is a breeze to make! You’ll need salted butter, green and red bell peppers, yellow onion, celery, garlic cloves, jalapeño, salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, peeled crawfish tails, cream cheese, Velveeta cheese, heavy whipping cream, Creole mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, lemon juice, parsley, green onion, and crackers.
Start by melting the butter in a skillet and then add the bell peppers, onion, celery, jalapeño, and seasonings. Cook for about six minutes until the vegetables are soft. In a slow cooker, combine the crawfish, cheeses, cooked vegetables, Creole mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Let it cook for about 45 minutes, then stir in the lemon juice, parsley, and green onion. Serve with crackers, and get your dip on!
By now, you should be a crawfish-cooking expert! For more detailed instructions on each recipe, check out the links provided. And don’t forget to impress everyone at your next family gathering with your culinary skills.