Boiled Crawfish with Spicy Cajun Sauce

Ingredients

• 5 pounds (2.3 kg) live crawfish 5 pounds (2.3 kg) live crawfish
• 8 quarts (7.6 liters) water 8 quarts (7.6 liters) water
• 2 lemons, halved 2 lemons, halved
• 4 onions, quartered 4 onions, quartered
• 6 cloves of garlic, smashed 6 cloves of garlic, smashed
• 4 bay leaves 4 bay leaves
• 1 cup (240 ml) Cajun seasoning 1 cup (240 ml) Cajun seasoning
• 1 cup (240 ml) hot sauce 1 cup (240 ml) hot sauce
• 1 cup (240 ml) Worcestershire sauce 1 cup (240 ml) Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup (240 ml) melted butter 1 cup (240 ml) melted butter
• Salt, to taste Salt, to taste

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 350 kcal / 1465 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 15g, 7g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 10g, 2g
• Protein: 40g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil.
2. 2.
   Squeeze the juice of the lemons into the boiling water and add the lemon halves.
3. 3.
   Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, and Cajun seasoning to the pot.
4. 4.
   Let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse.
5. 5.
   Add the live crawfish to the pot and cook for 5 minutes.
6. 6.
   Remove the pot from heat and let the crawfish soak in the flavorful broth for 15 minutes.
7. 7.
   In a separate bowl, combine the hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, melted butter, and salt.
8. 8.
   Drain the crawfish and transfer them to a large serving platter.
9. 9.
   Pour the spicy Cajun sauce over the crawfish, ensuring they are evenly coated.
10. 10.
    Serve the Boiled Crawfish hot, alongside some crusty bread and extra sauce for dipping.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Crawfish — Make sure to choose live and fresh crawfish for the best flavor. Rinse them thoroughly before cooking to remove any dirt or debris.
• Cajun seasoning — Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning according to your spice preference. You can also make your own Cajun seasoning blend by combining paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and dried oregano.

Tips & Tricks

• To enhance the flavor, let the crawfish soak in the broth for a longer period, up to 30 minutes.
• Serve the Boiled Crawfish with corn on the cob and potatoes for a complete meal.
• Adjust the spiciness of the Cajun sauce by adding more or less hot sauce according to your preference.
• Use a large pot to ensure that the crawfish have enough space to cook evenly.
• Provide plenty of napkins and wet wipes for a messy but enjoyable dining experience.

Serving advice

Serve the Boiled Crawfish on a large platter, garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges. Provide small bowls for discarded shells and extra Cajun sauce for dipping.

Presentation advice

For an authentic presentation, cover the serving table with newspaper before placing the platter of Boiled Crawfish in the center. This adds a rustic touch and makes cleanup easier.