Best 4 Best Crawfish Boil Recipes

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If you're looking for a delicious and authentic Louisiana-style crawfish boil, you've come to the right place. Crawfish boils are a staple of Cajun and Creole cuisine, and they're perfect for a backyard party or special occasion. With the right ingredients and a little bit of know-how, you can make a crawfish boil that will make your taste buds dance.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

CRAWFISH BOIL RECIPE FOR 40 TO 45 POUNDS OF CRAWFISH



Crawfish Boil Recipe for 40 to 45 Pounds of Crawfish image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Yield about 40 pounds, 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 sticks unsalted butter
1 (4.5 pound) bag Crawfish Crab and Shrimp Boil
5 pounds of #1 red potatoes, cleaned but not peeled
40 to 45 pounds live crawfish, cleaned
24 ears of corn, shucked and cut into halves

Steps:

  • Leaving the crawfish in the broth for a longer time results in more spiciness. Sprinkling additional spice mixture on the crawfish after draining also will increase the spiciness.
  • Crawfish Crab and Shrimp Boil: There are many manufacturers to choose from. This is a spice blend of salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon juice, and additional spices. Typically a bag of spice mix costs about $5.00. The brand used for the show was Lousiana Fish Fry Products Crawfish Crab and Shrimp Boil.
  • Instructions:
  • Place the cooking pot with its basket on the propane burner and fill with 11 gallons of water, about halfway. This should be about the right amount of water to protect against spillage when the potatoes or crawfish are added later. Add the 2 sticks of butter and 2/3 of the bag of Crawfish Crab and Shrimp Boil, and the 5 pounds of red potatoes. Cover and bring to a boil. Cook potatoes for 15 minutes and, while the potatoes are cooking, rinse the crawfish.
  • Place the bag of crawfish in 1 of the coolers, or, on the ground and hose down the bag until the water runs clear, about 5 minutes. Open the bag and pour the live crawfish into 1 of the coolers. With the drain of the cooler open, continue to rinse the crawfish for 5 minutes or until the water runs clear.
  • After the potatoes have cooked for 15 minutes, add the corn and continue cooking the corn and the potatoes for 15 minutes more. Remove a potato and test for doneness, continuing to cook, if needed. Remove the basket and dump the corn and potatoes into 1 of the coolers. Close the cooler in order to keep the corn and potatoes warm.
  • Pour the crawfish into the cooking basket and lower the basket into the pot. Bring to a boil and cook the crawfish for 15 minutes. Turn the heat off and allow the crawfish to simmer in the liquid for an additional 15 minutes.
  • Remove the crawfish and serve with the potatoes and corn. Traditionally, the crawfish is dumped onto a newspaper covered table (we used a door on 2 sawhorses). Additional spice mix can be sprinkled on the crawfish, if desired.
  • Variation: Some cooks add 1 to 2 pounds of sweet onions, peeled and cut in wedges, and/or the juice from 1 dozen lemons to the cooking liquid.
  • Variation: With proper ventilation, several pounds of shrimp could be cooked with approximately 1/2 to 1 cup of the spice mixture indoors. However, without proper ventilation the spice mixture fumes will overwhelm the typical house.

CRAWFISH BOIL



Crawfish Boil image

Crawfish boils are a messy, fun, hands-on, social experience and not as intimidating as one would think. Add as little or as much heat as you like-these little guys get more flavorful the longer they sit. Bring the spicy bold flavors of this Louisiana shellfish to your next backyard gathering. Don't forget the paper towels!

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

10 pounds live crawfish (18/22 pp size)
2 cups kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds crab and crawfish boil seasoning, such as Zatarain's
1 1/2 pounds smoked sausage, such as andouille or kielbasa, sliced into 2-inch pieces
4 ears corn, broken into 3-inch pieces
2 large onions, peeled and quartered
3 lemons, juiced, rinds reserved
2 heads garlic, cut in half crosswise
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 bunch fresh thyme
4 fresh bay leaves
3 pounds small red potatoes
6 to 8 pounds ice cubes
Seafood boil seasoning, such as Old Bay, for serving

Steps:

  • Place the crawfish in a large cooler, cover with cold water and add 1 cup of the salt. Allow the crawfish to purge in the salted water for 5 to 10 minutes. (This Southern tradition is said to remove mud and impurities before cooking.) Strain the crawfish and set aside.
  • Fill a 42-quart stockpot fitted with a boil basket halfway with water. Add the crab and crawfish boil seasoning and remaining cup kosher salt. Then add the sausage, corn, onions, lemon juice and rinds, garlic, butter, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Add the potatoes and boil until just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Carefully add the crawfish to the stockpot and cook until they're bright red, about 8 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat and add the ice to the stockpot to halt the cooking. Allow the crawfish and other ingredients to sit in the iced water for 25 to 30 minutes (the longer the crawfish sit, the more flavorful they become).
  • Pull the crawfish, sausage and vegetables from the water using the boil basket. Serve over newspaper spread out on a table and sprinkle with seafood boil seasoning.

CRAWFISH BOIL



Crawfish Boil image

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h53m

Yield 10 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
1 tablespoon whole coriander seeds
2 tablespoons whole cloves
1 1/2 tablespoons whole allspice
5 gallons water
1 pound kosher salt
4 tablespoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon dried dill weed
6 bay leaves, crumbled
10 pounds live crawfish
3 pounds small red potatoes, cut in 1/2, if larger than 2-inches in diameter
8 ears corn, halved
2 heads garlic, unpeeled, but separated
1 pound andouille sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces

Steps:

  • Place the peppercorns, coriander, clove, and allspice into a spice grinder and grind for 10 to 15 seconds.
  • Fill a 40-quart pot with 5 gallons of water and add the freshly ground spices, salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, thyme, oregano, dry mustard, dill weed, and bay leaves. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, approximately 40 minutes.
  • Rinse the crawfish thoroughly in the bag in which they arrived to remove excess dirt and mud. Put the crawfish in a large container and fill with cool water. Stir to remove dirt from the crawfish. Transfer small batches of crawfish to a colander and rinse under cool running water. Pick out any debris or dead crawfish. Once all crawfish have been rinsed, discard dirty water, and return the crawfish to the container. Repeat this process 6 to 8 times, or until the water is clear.
  • Once the seasoned water comes to a boil, add the potatoes, corn, garlic, and sausage. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Add the crawfish, cover, and cook for 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the pot to sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Drain well and serve immediately.

LOUISIANA CRAWFISH BOIL



Louisiana Crawfish Boil image

What a feast! Invite the family and dig into this messy, yummy boil. Combining crawfish, sausage, corn, mushrooms, potatoes, and artichokes, this is a dish you'll crave over and over. Add other seafood or vegetables to your liking.

Provided by IMANKAY

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     Sparkle

Time 1h45m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 heads garlic, unpeeled
5 bay leaves
2 (3 ounce) packages dry crab boil
1 tablespoon liquid shrimp and crab boil seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
3 large oranges, halved
3 large lemons, halved
2 large whole artichokes
15 red potatoes, washed
30 pieces baby corn
2 large onions, sliced
2 (16 ounce) packages mushrooms, cleaned
½ pound fresh green beans, trimmed
2 (16 ounce) packages smoked sausage, cut into 1/2 inch slices
50 live crawfish, rinsed

Steps:

  • Fill a very large pot about 1/3 full with water. Add the garlic, bay leaves, dry and liquid crab boil seasonings, salt, pepper, oranges, lemons, artichokes, and potatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes.
  • Stir in the corn, onions, mushrooms, and green beans; cook 15 minutes more. Stir in the sausage; cook 5 minutes more. Add the crawfish, return mixture to boil, then simmer until the crawfish shells turn bright red and the tails pull out easily, about 5 minutes. Test for doneness by peeling a crawfish. Be sure not to overcook, or crawfish will become tough.
  • Drain well. Serve crawfish hot, Louisiana-style, spread over a picnic table covered with newspapers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 540.5 calories, Carbohydrate 38 g, Cholesterol 285.6 mg, Fat 22 g, Fiber 9.6 g, Protein 51.4 g, SaturatedFat 7.5 g, Sodium 1926.6 mg, Sugar 12.7 g

Tips:

  • Choose the Right Crawfish: Select live crawfish that are firm, plump, and free of dark spots or discoloration. The larger the crawfish, the more meat you'll get.
  • Purge the Crawfish: Place the crawfish in a large pot or container filled with cold water and salt. Allow them to soak for 30 minutes to an hour to remove any dirt or impurities.
  • Prepare the Boil Liquid: Combine water, salt, seasonings, and vegetables in a large pot or kettle. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes to infuse the flavors.
  • Add the Crawfish: Once the boil liquid is ready, carefully add the purged crawfish to the pot. Bring the liquid back to a boil and cook the crawfish for 5-7 minutes, or until they turn bright red and are cooked through.
  • Serve Immediately: Transfer the boiled crawfish to a large platter or serving tray. Serve with corn on the cob, potatoes, and melted butter for dipping.

Conclusion:

Crawfish boils are a delicious and festive way to enjoy this popular Cajun dish. With a little planning and preparation, you can easily create a memorable crawfish boil experience for your friends and family. Be sure to choose fresh crawfish, purge them properly, and use a flavorful boil liquid to ensure the best possible results. And don't forget to have plenty of napkins on hand, because things are about to get messy!

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