How do you cook crayfish?

[Abelman]

Sorry guys, not trying to hijack the thread.

They have been purged since they are shelled and packaged when I get them at the store.

[Texas-Hunter]

Sorry guys, not trying to hijack the thread.

They have been purged since they are shelled and packaged when I get them at the store.

Not knocking that... Its the outstanding meal you posted...

[supervman]

Somehow I think they taste like cheap dog food, cool. Not that I've ever eaten dog food.

Uh, I've eaten Milk Bones (stupid frat boy shit) HOWEVER, crawdaddys are one of GOD's special lil gifts.

LOVE EM !

Suck the juice outta the heads and pinch the tail and enjoy!

Awesome lil things!

[supervman]

I can't get fresh ones out here, at least at a decent price. If I could, a boil is the way to go, tails and heads.......with a lot of heat and it's ohh so good.

So, I can get shelled tails at the store. I do one of two things with them, either burgers:





or a type of Gumbo with a recipe I got from someone in LA:





Dirty rice is good with either. With the gumbo, you can eat the rice seperate or mixed in. It's a dish that is better the day after so all the spices meld together.

If you want any info on either one, let me know I can give you the recipe.

[Gunslinger]

Uh, I've eaten Milk Bones (stupid frat boy shit) HOWEVER, crawdaddys are one of GOD's special lil gifts.

LOVE EM !

Suck the juice outta the heads and pinch the tail and enjoy!

Awesome lil things!

I only think they taste like dog food when they are cold. Love them hot.
Some things just don't taste good cold. Gar is one of them, crawfish is another. And some things aren't good hot or cold, that would be crawfish heads.

[Dionysus]

Boil 'em..typically with a crab boil. I like the commercially available Zatarains Crab Boil. You can make due with Kosher, bay leaf, pepper corns, coriander seed, red pepper flakes, onion, paprika and garlic... or something along those lines.

http://www.zatarains.com/content.cfm?id=10372

Can't beat a good Crab Boil for bugs. If you are going to boil them make sure they are still alive. If they're dead toss 'em ......

[jbchoice1]

If you want any info on either one, let me know I can give you the recipe.

uhhh, yeah... I want the gumbo recipe anyways please... and thank you

[curious aardvark]

abelman what's your recipe for the 'burgers' - I do something similiar with shrimp, call them shrimp cakes lol

Your's look way prettier than mine, interested to know what you put in them.

[Abelman]

uhhh, yeah... I want the gumbo recipe anyways please... and thank you

Crawdad Gumbo

1 Onion, yellow or red
1 Bell Pepper
Fresh sliced Mushrooms, 8 oz.
1 Pound of cooked/thawed Crawfish Tails
2 cans of French Onion Soup
1 can of Cream of Celery Soup
1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 stick of unsalted Butter

Sautee the diced onion, bell pepper and mushrooms. I add some oregano, cumin and parsley. While you’re doing this, add the 4 cans of soup in a large pot. Mix well and set on Med heat for an hour, stirring every so often. At first, it doesn’t look so good but it takes some time. It will also look very thick. Don’t worry as once it’s all finished, it will be fine.

Then, mix the tails in and set at low heat. I add some smoked Kung Pao ground pepper as well as some Sriracha sauce to taste. Just depends on the heat level you’re looking for. Cover and let simmer for 30-60 minutes.

We add some dirty rice on the side or it can be mixed in as well. Garlic bread to boot.

[Abelman]

CA, thanks for the compliment. I actually work off a shrimp burger recipe and use the crawdad tails. Here's what I use:

Not at all. Here's the one I used as most tails are already cooked, so:

SHRIMP BURGERS - Time: 1 hour
1 pound shrimp (or crawfish tails)
2 tablespoons scallions
3 tablespoons diced celery
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
11/2 teaspoons lemon zest
3 tablespoons mayonnaise (NOT Miracle Whip)
1 cup cornbread crumbs (or bread crumbs)
1 egg, beaten (I would use 2 for a little more firmness in the burger for Crawfish)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Tabasco sauce, to taste (of course - this is my recipe, you know)
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1. Cook and peel the shrimp, and chop.
2. In a large bowl mix the shrimp with the scallions, parsley, and lemon zest. Stir in the mayonnaise, cornbread crumbs and the egg, and beat with a whisk or wooden spoon until evenly distributed. Season w/ salt, pepper & tabasco to taste.
3. Form into patties and saute in peanut oil until both sides are nicely browned. Drain on paper towel. Serve on hamburger buns or choice of bread with lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce. NOTE: really hard crusty stuff is not, IMO best; hearty, but softer stuff, w/seeds or w/o depending on personal preference is GOOD. Some like it with lots of tartar sauce, but I don't unless it's homemade. Yield: 4 servings.

Here's another I have if you need to cook either the shrimp or crawfish:

Ingredients :
1 pound raw Shrimp (cleaned, shelled & deveined)
1 Egg
1/4 cup finely chopped Parsley Leaves
1/2 cup Panko Crumbs
Kosher Salt
Freshly ground Black Pepper
Wasabi Mayonnaise (recipe follows)
Preparation :
In a food processor, process half the shrimp with the egg. Coarsely chop the
remaining shrimp and put it into a bowl. Add the processed shrimp and the parsley,
panko crumbs, salt and pepper to taste. Divide the mixture into 4 portions and form
them into patties (a round cookie cutter works well for forming the shrimp burgers.
Put the cookie cutter on freezer or waxed paper and fill with the shrimp mixture,
then gently pull off the cookie cutter). After the burgers are formed, put them in the
refrigerator for about 2 hours to help them firm up.
Stabilize egg at 350° with a raised grid. Place the burgers on a perforated pan such
as a pizza pan with holes or a porcelain coated cooking grid. Place pan on the raised
grid and grill until cooked through, turning once, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Remove the burgers to an english muffin half that has been spread with the Wasabi
Mayonnaise. Add more Wasabi Mayonnaise on top of the shrimp burger. Cut into
quarters and enjoy!
Wasabi Mayonnaise :
1 cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup prepared Wasabi (available in the Asian section of your supermarket)
1 tsp. freshly grated Ginger
2 Tbls. Soy Sauce
1 tsp. Sugar
Pinch Salt
Mix all the ingredients together. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Cover and
refrigerate until ready to use.

[Okie joe]

Thanks All

Thanks all, for all the help and it is on my Bucket List....Thanks for the recipes and Gumbo and shrimp burger....It was not Jacked....loved the input....

[jbchoice1]

thanks for the recipe... I also see that bottle of the hot cock sauce in the background...