This easy Crawfish Étouffée recipe is my take on the Louisiana classic. It has fresh Louisiana crawfish simmered in a flavorful, buttery sauce with fresh vegetables and spices. It’s served over hot rice or grits and will wow any guests!
Do you love seafood recipes? Try Seafood Pasta, Shrimp and Grits, Lobster Roll, or Fish and Chips!
Why I love this recipe:
- My Personal Favorites – Crawfish étouffée is up there on the list of my favorite dishes of all time. I’ve never wanted to post a recipe until I got it just right–at at least, just the way I like it! There are so many variations of these types of dishes, so I’m so thrilled to share my version with you! (And if you love cajun and creole food, you have to try my gumbo and shrimp and grits recipes!).
- Easy – This easy étouffée recipe may seem intimidating, but I created this recipe with the home cook in mind. Just follow my steps and I’ll show you how simple it can be!
- Adaptable – High quality Louisiana crawfish is incredible (and companies like the Louisiana Crawfish Co. will ship it to you), but it is possible to swap it out for shrimp, crab, or chicken if you prefer.
Gumbo vs Étouffée:
Gumbo and Étouffée may have some similar ingredients and preparation, but gumbo is more like a soup, made with a darker roux, more broth, and usually more proteins and seafood (like sausage, chicken, shrimp).
Just like with gumbo, there are so many different ways to make Crawfish Étouffée, and just as many opinions about it! (Especially because the Cajun and Creole versions each add their own flare!) This recipe is my take on a basic Crawfish Étouffée that any home cook can make, and I’m so happy with the result!
How to make Crawfish Étouffée:
Sauté Holy Trinity: Add 4 tablespoons butter or oil to a 12’’ cast iron skillet, or dutch oven over medium heat. Once melted, add onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, until translucent. Remove veggies to a bowl.
Make Roux: Reduce heat to medium low. Add ½ cup (1 stick) butter to the pan. Once melted, add flour, and whisk to combine. Cook, whisking continuously, for about 10-15 minutes, or until it turns golden, the color of peanut butter. Be careful not to let it burn.
Add Broth: Slowly add the seafood broth, using a whisk to constantly stir until completely smooth. Add veggies back to the sauce, along with seasonings and bouillon. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. You want it the consistency of gravy. (If needed, add 1 – 2 tablespoons more flour by ladling out a big spoonful of the broth into a cup, stir in the flour until smooth, and return to the pot. Cook until thickened.)
Add Crawfish tails and cook until warmed through. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
Serve this real crawfish étouffée recipe over hot cooked white rice, or with cheesy cooked grits. Garnish with green onion, and serve with hot sauce.
Storage and Freezing Instructions:
To Store: Crawfish Étouffée leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat over medium heat in a pot on the stove.
To Freeze: Let cool completely then transfer to a freezer safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw completely overnight in the refrigerator before reheating on the stove.
Recipe Variations:
- Crawfish: Crawfish season is December to July. I buy high quality crawfish from the Louisiana Crawfish Co. Alternately, you may find them in the freezer section of the grocery store. Imported crawfish from overseas will not taste as good! Look for “Louisiana” on the label. For Frozen Whole Crawfish, thaw, wash well, and remove meat. Save the shells to make stock if you want. For Live Crawfish, wash, place in pot of boiling water and apply lid. Boil 1-2 minutes, then remove to a bowl of ice water to cool, and then remove meat from shells.
- Seafood Stock: I buy seafood stock from my local International foods market. You may substitute chicken or vegetable stock. To make your own seafood stock for this recipe, save the shells from whole crawfish and place in a pot. Cover with cold water and add any leftover ends from veggies (carrot, celery or onion) and add a little pinch of dried thyme, basil and oregano. Bring to boil, then simmer, covered for 1-2 hours.
- Lobster Better Than Bouillon is essential to add depth of flavor–find it at local Asian or International Food Markets– but you may substitute better than bouillon chicken or vegetable base.
- Creole Étouffée: Add 1 diced roma tomato and 2 Tablespoons tomato paste.
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Recipe
Crawfish Étouffée
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion , diced
- 1 green bell pepper , diced
- 2 ribs celery , diced
- 5 cloves garlic , minced
- 12 Tablespoons butter , divided
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups seafood stock* , or a little more as needed
- 2 teaspoons Better than bouillon lobster base*
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper , ground, or more to taste
- 1 bunch green onions , chopped
- 1 lb Louisiana Crawfish Tails
For Serving:
- 4 cups hot cooked rice , or grits
- Hot sauce (I like Crystal)
Instructions
- Sauté "Holy Trinity" Veggies: Add 3-4 tablespoons butter or oil to a 12’’ cast iron skillet, or dutch oven over medium heat. Once melted, add onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, until translucent. Remove veggies to a bowl.
- Roux: Reduce heat to medium low. Add 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter to the pan. Once melted, add flour, and whisk to combine. Cook, whisking continuously, for about 10-15 minutes, or until it turns golden, the color of peanut butter. Be careful not to let it burn.
- Finish Gravy: Reduce heat to low and slowly add the seafood broth, using a whisk to constantly stir as you pour a slow and steady stream into the pot. Whisk until completely smooth. Add veggies back to the sauce, along with seasonings and bouillon. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. You want the consistency of gravy. If needed, add 1 – 2 tablespoons more flour by ladling out a big spoonful of the broth into a cup, stir in the flour until smooth, and return to the pot. Cook until thickened.
- Crawfish: Add cooked crawfish tails and cook until warmed through. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve over hot cooked white rice, or cooked grits. Garnish with green onion, and serve with hot sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
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Awesome recipe but I added about 4 oz. Tomato sauce. Hubby is diabetic so we served over brown rice.
Made this last night, I added a handful of peeled, deveined cooked shrimp. It was wonderful, we all had seconds. Will definitely add this to the keep box!