Crawfish are a popular seafood delicacy that are enjoyed in many parts of the world. In this article, I will provide you with a detailed recipe and step-by-step instructions on how to boil crawfish Louisiana style
1. How To Boil Crawfish Louisiana Style
Ingredients
- Live crawfish (approximately 5-7 pounds per person)
- 8-10 quarts of water
- 2 cups of Cajun seafood boil seasoning (such as Zatarain’s or Louisiana Fish Fry)
- 1 cup of kosher salt
- 6 smoked sausage (sliced)
- 1/2 cup of cayenne pepper (adjust according to your preferred spice level)
- 6-8 lemons, halved
- 4-6 onions, quartered
- 12-15 garlic cloves, peeled
- 6-8 ears of corn, cut into thirds
- 2-3 pounds of small red potatoes
- Optional: additional Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, and melted butter for serving
Instructions
Preparing the Crawfish
Carefully inspect the live crawfish, discarding any dead or damaged ones. Rinse the crawfish thoroughly under cold running water to remove any dirt or impurities. Drain and set aside.
Preparing the Boiling Liquid
In a large stockpot or crawfish boiler, fill it with 8-10 quarts of water. Place the pot over high heat and bring the water to a rolling boil.
Seasoning the Boiling Liquid
Once the water is boiling, add the Cajun seafood boil seasoning, kosher salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir well to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed.
Next, squeeze the juice of 4-6 lemon halves into the boiling liquid and add the remaining lemon halves. Add the quartered onions and peeled garlic cloves to the pot, infusing the boiling liquid with their flavors.
Cooking the Vegetables & Sausage
Add the corn, potatoes, and sliced sausages to the boiling liquid. Cook for 10 minutes or until them are tender when pierced with a fork. Remove the cooked vegetables and sausage with a slotted spoon and set them aside.
Boiling the Crawfish
Gently add the live crawfish to the boiling liquid. Stir to ensure that the crawfish are well-coated with the seasoned boiling liquid.
Allow the crawfish to boil for about 5 minutes. During this time, the crawfish will absorb the flavors of the seasoned liquid.
Turn off the heat and let the crawfish soak in the seasoned liquid for approximately 15-20 minutes. This soaking process allows the crawfish to absorb more flavor.
Draining and Serving
Carefully drain the crawfish and transfer them to a large serving platter or a table covered with newspaper or butcher paper.
Sprinkle additional Cajun seasoning over the boiled crawfish for extra flavor, if desired.
Serve the boiled crawfish with hot sauce, melted butter, and the cooked vegetables (corn and potatoes) alongside.
Don’t forget to provide plenty of napkins and a large bucket or bowl for discarding the shells.
With this detailed recipe, you can confidently boil live crawfish and infuse them with Cajun seasonings, resulting in a mouthwatering dish that captures the essence of Louisiana’s rich culinary heritage