Saturday, August 18, 2012

Cajun Seafood Pasta Salad + A Cajun Waltz

Here's a Cajun fave that is out of this world and is just perfect on a warm summer evening. The succulent seafood and spicy jalapeno dressing make this salad rock with flavor. Guaranteed to please your family and guests, cher, and have them coming back for more. Serve with a fresh garden salad, French bread, and a nice glass of wine, for a great summer meal. Bon Appetit!

Cajun Seafood Pasta Salad

1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 lb. peeled crawfish tails, if available
1/2 lb. lump crab meat
5 strips bacon, cooked, drained, and crumbled
2 tbs.'s olive oil plus more for drizzling
1 onion, diced
1 bell pepper, (any color) chopped
2 tsp.'s minced garlic
1 tsp. Cajun seasoning
1 tsp. Cajun seasoning
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 pkg. small pasta shells 
Jalapeno Ranch Dressing (recipe below)

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse,  and place in large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, and add 1 tsp. Cajun seasoning. Mix well and set aside. In large skillet, saute seafood, garlic, Cajun seasoning, and parsley, for about 10 minutes to 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, cover, and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Meanwhile make the dressing. Add seafood mixture to pasta bowl and mix well.

Jalapeno Ranch Dressing

1 1/4 cups, no-fat buttermilk 
3/4 cup light mayo
1 tsp. Creole mustard
2 tsp.'s white vinegar
2 tbs.'s lemon juice
1 tsp. crushed garlic
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tbs. fresh parsley, minced
1 tsp. Cajun seasoning
Salt to taste

Whisk ingredients together in the order given, in a mixing bowl. Pour over seafood pasta mixture, top with bacon bits, mix well, and chill until ready to serve. Fab! Enjoy!

^^^^^^^
A Cajun Waltz

Here's a little clip that I took of the crowd enjoying a Cajun waltz at last year's Festival Acadiens. This wonderful festival will take place on October 12, 13, and 14, 2012,  for those of you who may want to make your reservations, now. Three days of non stop Cajun and Creole music, food, and fun. For a complete schedule, click here. Let the good times roll, cher!



I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all of my new followers and many thanks for following. Hope that you will enjoy the recipes and music. Please leave a comment so that I can follow you back. Hope that you're having a wonderful, fun weekend! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

21 comments:

Cloudia said...

Now I want shrimp!



Aloha from Honolulu
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Angie's Recipes said...

What a summery and delightful pasta! Love your jalapeno ranch dressing.

Anonymous said...

Great blog! I'm a big fan of both cajun food and music, and I always try to find reasons to go back top Louisiana and New Orleans. Living in Europe it's not too often, but I'm planning my next trip.

Big Dude said...

"Fab" sounds like an understatement for this dish - it sounds more like awesome to me. If we make it back to that area, we're going to have to find us some cajun dancing.

Liza said...

Sounds lovely!

Drick said...

Now this is a dish we can enjoy year 'round - loaded with seafood and tickled with that flavorful sauce, why pasta never had it so good... hope you have been doing well.. been dodging rain over here

Kat said...

The pasta salad looks yummy! I love watching everyone dance and have a great time. Only in Cajun Country! Thanks!

Unknown said...

Yumm! Gotta try this!

Gypsy Heart said...

I am starving!!! Gosh, everything you share is beyond wonderful. Thanks so much!

xo
Pat

Gypsy Heart said...

I am starving!!! Gosh, everything you share is beyond wonderful. Thanks so much!

xo
Pat

Eddie Bluelights said...

Looks absolutely delicious but cannot eat another thing right now because I'm just back from a wedding feast. A very important wedding - my daughter's. The day went wonderfully. Speak soon ~ Eddie

Susanna Powers said...

Yum! you are very talented both at cooking and presenting the recipes. thinking of you, sp

Martha said...

This is perfect during the heat wave! I always leave here hungry!! :)

Unknown said...

Nominated you for the One Very Lovely Blog and Inspiring Blogger Award. Stop by and check it out.

Velva said...

You are right, this cajun seafood salad rocks! The spicy jalapeno dressing is really nice.

Velva

Gina Gao said...

This looks so amazing! I'm going to go try it out now.

www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

Kittie Howard said...

Your recipe's so yummy I bookmarked it. The shrimp aren't the problem, it's the crayfish, but think Wegman's has some. If not, I'll double up on the shrimp and crabmeat.

Thanks for stopping by, cher. I've missed ya! You're right about Edwin Edwards. Understand he's living at Pelican Pointe near Gonzales and is quite the popular guy. *shakes head*

Kittie Howard said...

Just wanted to pop by and say hub and I made your salad last night, minus the crawfish as they weren't available -- never mind -- this salad is beyond delicious and the dressing is to die for! Thanks, cher, for another keeper recipe!

Linda Starr said...

I haven't made seafood salad in years, not sure why, but I must try this one especially since I have a ready access to good seafood living here now.

Love the photo of the margarita display above.

Michelle B said...

Brunch, lunch, supper...I could eat this any time of day.

Hope you are making out OK with Isaac!

nanny said...

Thinking of you......Be Safe!!