Boiled crawfish – the simplest snack just perfect for a big gathering with friends.
The crawfish meat is very tasty, but many people avoid these crustaceans because they do not know how to prepare them and even how to eat them. Once you will learn these easy steps you will want this appetizer on every fish barbeque. Today I will share with you how to cook and eat correctly crawfish.
What does crawfish taste like?
Crawfish are also known as “crayfish” and “crawdads”, are popular throughout the United States, especially in Louisiana, Texas, and south countries. These shellfish are an important source of high-quality protein, are low in calories, and have a low-fat content. These crustaceans are loaded with omega 3, which makes them even more valuable for consumption. Crawfish contains 99% protein, and just 1% is fat. Due to the fact that they do not contain any carbohydrates, you can eat crawfish without fear of adding weight.
About the taste of crawfish meat I just can say that as in shrimps it depends on how you cook it. Actually, its flavor is a kind of combination of crab, lobster, and shrimps. I will describe it much meatier, a little sweet, and more flavorful than shrimp flavor.
The best crawfish are the large ones, 6-7 pieces per pound. Anyway, do not avoid the smallest ones if you have no choice. The crucial rule is while boiling the crawfish should be all about the same in size, so you ensure that they will cook evenly.
For a gathering of 6-8 people, you will need over 30 pounds of crawfish. It is about 4 to 5 pounds per person.
Is crawfish better than shrimp?
As for me, I can not compare shrimp and crawfish. First, both of them are high in protein and low in fat and calories, which makes them both a perfect choice if you are following a diet. From these two shellfish are cooked different dishes. Only a few recipes could be prepared either with shrimps and crawfish. One of them is the Seafood boil. Check our delightful Shrimp boil, and experiment with crawfish if desired.
However, unlike shrimp, crawfish live in freshwater rivers and ponds. This fact plays a considerable role in their taste. Crawfish have a stronger taste and more meaty consistency.
What is the difference between crayfish and lobster?
However, crawfish and lobster look almost the same there is a difference between them. First, the major difference is in size. Lobsters are much bigger than crawfish. As I previously mentioned crawfish lives in freshwater rivers and ponds while lobsters in salty water such as oceans and seas. There is also a little difference between these shellfish textures.
How to clean and purge crawfish?
When you buy crawfish pay attention to their quality. All of them should be alive. Know that dead crawfish are toxic, very toxic and it is not safe to eat them. Therefore thrown them away without any doubt. Before cooking crawfish, always wash them thoroughly, especially the crust and tail. We do this to avoid dirt ( sand and debris) that may give an unpleasant taste. Also, you can grind the crust with a brush.
So as I mentioned before make sure all crawfish you grab from the marketplace or crawfish farm are alive. It is perfect if you buy them on the day you are going to cook them. Also till you will start working with them, better keep crawfish uncovered in clean water.
Besides the fact that crayfish must be washed, I always remove the digestive tract. The tail of the crawfish has 5 thins. Take the middle one and move it from left to right, twist it gently, and then, all in one go, pull the complete waste sack out. Now you have one crawfish ready for the pot. Repeat this procedure with all shellfish. If you fail to remove the digestive tract in some crawfish, it is not a tragedy, but it will be great if you succeed in most cases.
Then wash the crawfish several times in water, until the water is perfectly clean.
What part of a crawfish do you eat?
Many people avoid eating crawfish because they do not know how to do this and it may look complicated at first. Most parts that are frequently by people are the trial, avoiding the crawfish’s head which is also a delicacy. In most dishes, such as soups, salads, appetizers are used also just meat from the tail. Also, very little meat can be eaten from claws. But the most delicious thing from crawfish for me is the head.
Is it safe to eat the yellow stuff in crawfish?
Definitely, you can. This yellow stuff in the head is called the hepatopancreas. It is a kind of liver in other animals. As for me is the tastier part of the crawfish, full of rich flavor.
How to boil crawfish?
There are a lot of recipes for boiling crawfish, and hundreds of variations. Today, I will share with you the easiest and tastier recipe I have ever tried. Just 5 ingredients including water and you can savor the best crawfish. Fill your glass with beer and prepare for a delectable mound of bright red crawfish.
Clean and purge crawfish (I used 6 pounds of crawfish) as it is described above. Take a large pot, lay a bunch of fresh dill on the bottom. Add one chili pepper and 6 tablespoons of salt. Transfer cleaned crawfish in the pot and cover again with some fresh dill, one chili pepper. Sprinkle on the top 4 tablespoons of salt and pour boiling water to cover everything.
Boil for 10-12 minutes on medium heat, stirring frequently. Once the crawfish are boiled, they change in color and turn red. The correctly boiled crawfish should have firm tail meat and a juicy and flavorful head.
Platter your crawfish and enjoy with pleasure!
How to eat crawfish?
Take a crawfish in your hand. Keep its head between two fingers of one hand, and the tail with the other. Turn the head left and right until it comes off.
Suck the juice from the head. I have to mention that this is optional. Some people appreciate this stuff, others do not. If you are squeamish about eating it then throw it away.
Next, crack the tail shell and remove it. Eat the tail meat. It’s the meatier part of the crawfish. Crush the claws and remove the contents that tasted the same as the tail meat.
Now you have all the instructions to enjoy the best crawfish!
How to eat Crawfish?
Equipment
- big pot
Ingredients
- 6 pounds crawfish fresh
- 10 tbsp salt
- 2 chili pepper
- dill big bunch
- water enough to cover the crawfish in the pot
Instructions
How to boil crawfish?
- Clean and purge crawfish. Take a large pot, lay a bunch of fresh dill on the bottom. Add one chili pepper and 6 tablespoons of salt. Transfer cleaned crawfish in the pot and cover again with some fresh dill, one chili pepper. Sprinkle on the top 4 tablespoons of salt and pour boiling water to cover everything.
- Boil for 10-12 minutes on medium heat, stirring frequently. Once the crawfish are boiled, they change in color and turn red.
Nutrition
1 comment
I’m from south Louisiana, this is horrible and not accurate. First off, that is not even Louisiana crawfish in the pictures. The recipe is not close to what we use. It seems you did ur research on the animal it self, but to prepare and cook, you did not. If you ever come to South Louisiana, I’ll gladly show you how we do it!