Crawfish Are Back + Crawfish Etouffee !

Well, they're finally here! You won't find them just anywhere, yet, but here are a few places around Acadiana that are serving boiled crawfish. In Lafayette, you'll find them at Acadiana Crawfish Express on Roselawn Blvd., or your local boiling pot. In Abbeville, you can eat boiled crawfish at Richard's Seafood patio, 1516 S. Henry St., better known to locals as the Pumping Plant Rd. I could tell some stories about my adventures along the Pumping Plant Rd., while in high school, but that's another post.

Tis' the beginning of the season for Crawfish, those delectable, succulent morsels of tail meat, that are at the heart of Cajun cuisine. They can be prepared many different ways, but my favorite is Crawfish Etoufee. Crawfish tails smothered with onions, peppers, and celery, also called "the trinity", in a heavenly stew and served over rice. The only thing better is crawfish, shrimp, and crab etouffee'. So if you can't get crawfish, shrimp or crab etouffee is divine, too. Ca cest' bon', cher!
 
 Crawfish Etouffee' 

 1 cup each of chopped onions and bell peppers
1/2 cup of chopped celery
2 tsp.'s minced garlic
1 small can of Rotel brand tomatoes and green chilies, drained
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup of chopped green onions (divided)
1 tbs. Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
1 tsp. of basil and a pinch of thyme
Salt to taste
1 1/2 cups of water or seafood stock

First, you make a roux.
4 tbs. butter
4 tbs. flour

Melt the butter in a large heavy pot, on medium heat. Add the flour and stir constantly, until a light to medium brown color is reached. (about 10 to 15 minutes)

Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, and tomatoes, and cook on low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly add the water or seafood stock,mix well, and bring to a boil. Add the crawfish, parsley, seasonings, and half of the green onions, and mix well.

Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 40 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over cooked rice and top with the remaining chopped onions.

A tossed green salad and french bread compliment the spice nicely. Enjoy!

No time to make a roux? Click on product to order this excellent Etoufee Mix.