RECIPE FOR CRAWFISH TAILS RECIPES

Steps:

• For Aioli: In 8-inch skillet, heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil on medium-high. Add green onions. Cook 2 minutes, stirring. Add garlic. Cook 2 minutes or until garlic is deep golden brown, stirring. When mixture is no longer hot, add to food processor along with mayonnaise, lemon peel, and lemon juice. Purée until smooth; refrigerate, covered, up to 2 days.
• For Boudin Balls: In food processor, pulse red pepper, poblano, celery, onion, and garlic until very finely chopped, scraping down side of bowl occasionally. In 10-inch skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil on medium-high. Add vegetable mixture. Cook 8 to 10 minutes or until mixture is mostly dry, stirring frequently.
• Wrap sage, thyme, and bay leaves in cheesecloth and secure with butcher's twine; add to 6-quart saucepot, along with vegetable mixture, Cajun seasoning, stock, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Heat to boiling on high. Stir in rice. Reduce heat to low. Gently simmer, covered, 15 to 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Spread rice in rimmed baking sheet or 3-quart baking dish to cool, discarding herb sachet. Return rice to pot. Fold in crawfish, green onions, butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• In medium bowl, lightly beat eggs. Place crumbs in shallow dish. Using golf ball–size scoop, form rice mixture into balls. Dip balls into egg, letting excess drip off, then roll in crumbs.
• In 5-quart saucepot, heat remaining quart oil on medium-high until it reaches 375 degrees F on deep-fry thermometer. In batches, fry balls 2 to 3 minutes or until deep golden brown, turning occasionally. With slotted spoon, transfer to paper-towel-lined platter. Makes about 4 dozen balls. Serve warm with green onion aioli.

Steps:

• Cook pasta in salt water according to the directions on the package. Drain, then rinse under cool water to stop the cooking. Drain again, thoroughly.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet and saute onions and garlic for 3 minutes.
• *If using raw shrimp, add them with the onions and garlic at the beginning.
• Add the crawfish and half-and-half, sauté until bubbly.
• Add Creole seasoning - 1 big pinch then taste. Add more as needed but tasting before adding the next pinch until you think it's right. Add salt if needed. If you've boiled your own crawfish add the crawfish fat to the mixture as well.
• Cook for 5 - 10 minutes over medium heat until the sauce thickens.
• Add the pasta to the pot and toss well. You may not need to use all of the pasta. (I double the recipe when using the whole pound of pasta.) Let it sit for about 10 minutes over very low heat, stirring often.
• Serve immediately, with lots of French bread and a nice white wine. Buon Appetito!
• *COOKS NOTE: Most of the time I use half Heavy Cream and half - Half and Half, or in other words 1 1/3 cups heavy cream and 2/3 cups milk. I generally buy Heavy Cream because it can be cut with milk to make Half and Half. The sauce seems to thicken better than straight Half and Half but using all Heavy Cream is too thick.
• *Tip: The sauce is excellent over Redfish on da Half Shell or grilled filets - I call it Redfish Monica.
• *Options: If you don't have crawfish, use bay scallops, shrimp, lump crabmeat (add last and fold in gently).