Irresistible Crawfish Cakes For Your Next BBQ!
Welcome to my Southern Crawfish Cakes Recipe, y’all! These delectable cakes are a true tribute to the flavors of Louisiana and are inspired by my years of living in the heart of the South. If you’re a fan of seafood or just love good ole’ southern cooking, then this recipe is right up your alley.
Crawfish is a staple of Louisiana cuisine, and these Southern Crawfish Cakes highlight the unique and delicious flavors these little crustaceans have to offer. With just the right amount of spice and flavor, these cakes are perfect for a cozy night in with loved ones or a fun summer evening gathering with friends.
One bite of these Crawfish Cakes will transport you straight to the Bayou. Their perfect mix of spicy and savory flavors will leave you craving more.
So grab that trusty cast iron skillet and let’s get cookin’, y’all!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you’re a fan of southern-style cuisine or seafood, then this recipe for Southern Crawfish Cakes will surely win your heart. These cakes are not only delicious but also a perfect dish for any occasion. Let me tell you why you’ll fall in love with this recipe.
Firstly, crawfish is the hero of Louisiana’s culinary world, and this recipe brings the unique and tantalizing flavors of the state to your plate. With this recipe, you can enjoy the taste of Louisiana’s famous crawfish cakes without leaving your home.
Secondly, these cakes have the perfect balance of spice and flavor that will make your taste buds dance with joy. You’ll savor the mixture of Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, horseradish sauce, and garlic that adds depth to the cakes’ flavor profile.
Thirdly, these easy-to-prepare crawfish cakes are versatile and can be served in many ways at any time. Whether you want them as a hearty breakfast, a filling lunch or dinner, or an appetizer for family gatherings and special occasions – they fit every scenario.
Finally, this dish is affordable and straightforward to make since it requires few ingredients that most households have readily available in their pantry. The combination of peeled cooked crawfish tails with saltine crackers, green onions, garlic cloves, and parsley will make it an easy-to-follow recipe even for beginner cooks.
In conclusion, there’s no reason not to love Southern Crawfish Cakes. They offer unique flavors with an excellent balance of spice that’s sure to impress guests at any occasion. Besides its fantastic taste and versatility, it delivers on affordability and simplicity without compromising quality in each bite.
Ingredient List
Let’s dive into the ingredients that make this Southern Crawfish Cakes Recipe a hit. All the ingredients used in this recipe pack a flavorful punch that will make your taste buds dance. Here is what you’ll need for this delicious dish:
Crawfish Cakes Ingredients:
- 1 pound crawfish tails, cooked and peeled
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/3 cup green onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley sprigs, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup saltine cracker crumbs (about 20 crackers)
Crawfish Cream Sauce Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Hot sauce or horseradish sauce to taste
This might seem like a lot of ingredients, but they are all crucial to the flavor profile of these mouth-watering crawfish cakes. You can easily find most of them in a grocery store near you.
The Recipe How-To
Now that we have all of our ingredients set up, it’s time to start cooking! This Southern Crawfish Cakes Recipe is a little more involved than some recipes, but the results are absolutely worth it. Trust me.
The First Steps
To start, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup of chopped onions and 1/3 cup of chopped green bell peppers, and sauté them for about 2 minutes until the onions are translucent.
Next up, add 3 tablespoons of minced garlic to the pan and cook for an additional minute. Then, add one pound of cooked crawfish tails to the skillet and mix everything together well.
After mixing everything for about a minute or two, remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool down.
Preparing the Crawfish Cakes
While the crawfish mixture cools down, we can start preparing the cakes themselves. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tbsp dijon mustard, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, and 1 tsp Crystal hot sauce. Mix these ingredients well.
Then, add in 1 bunch of green onions chopped and 2 tablespoons each of chopped fresh parsley and cilantro. Mix everything together again.
Now slowly stir in a cup of saltine cracker crumbs until everything is evenly combined.
Combining All
After that comes the fun part- combining our cooled crawfish mixture with our wet mixture! Combine both mixtures in the same mixing bowl and begin stirring everything together until it’s evenly mixed.
Using your hands or an ice cream scoop, form the mixture into cakes sized into 3-inch patties.
In a new skillet you can heat up a few tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat, making sure the pan is evenly coated.
Once your pan is hot, gently place your Crawfish Cakes into it.
Cook them for about 3-5 minutes on each side or until both sides are golden brown and crispy.
Ready to Serve!
And there we have it – an amazing Southern Crawfish Cakes Recipe that’s packed with flavor! Don’t hesitate any longer and make this recipe today.
These crawfish cakes are perfect for a summer afternoon party or a weekend dinner with family.
Enjoy the dish with some horseradish sauce or your favorite cajun sauce, and garnish it with some fresh parsley sprigs. You can also squeeze some lemon juice on top to add a tangy flavor to the dish.
Don’t hesitate any longer and make this recipe today. You will surely won’t regret it!
Happy cooking!
Substitutions and Variations
When it comes to cooking, creativity knows no bounds. This recipe is incredibly versatile and can be adapted in many ways to fit your unique taste buds. Here are some substitutions and variations you can try:
– Shrimp: If crawfish is not available in your area or you’d like to switch it up, you can easily swap out the crawfish tails for peeled and deveined shrimp.
– Crabmeat: Another great seafood option that pairs well with this recipe is crabmeat. Use the same amount of crabmeat as you would with crawfish tails.
– Vegetarian: To make this recipe vegetarian-friendly, omit the crawfish and substitute it with finely chopped vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and corn.
– Gluten-Free: For a gluten-free option, replace the saltine cracker crumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or breadcrumbs.
– Spice Level: Depending on your spice tolerance, adjust the amount of hot sauce or horseradish sauce accordingly. You can also experiment with different types of hot sauce to find your perfect flavor profile.
– Herbs: Change up the flavor by substituting fresh parsley sprigs for cilantro or adding other herbs like basil or thyme.
These substitutions and variations will help you create a dish that is uniquely yours while staying true to the essence of this delicious southern crawfish cake recipe.
Serving and Pairing
When it comes to serving and pairing these delectable Southern Crawfish cakes, options are truly limitless. You can serve them as appetizers, as the main course or as a side dish, and you can pair them with an assortment of amazing sides and beverages.
As appetizers, these Crawfish Cakes will surely be the star of any party. Serve them on a tray or platter with a garnish of fresh parsley sprigs, and they will have people talking for days to come. These cakes also make a great main course when paired with fresh salad greens, steamed vegetables or even creamy mashed potatoes.
To elevate your Southern Crawfish Cakes experience, pair them with your favorite beverage such as a cold beer, crisp white wine or even iced tea. I recommend trying a bottle of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc for an added crispness and refreshing taste.
For those looking to take things up a notch, try making some delicious sides like Cajun rice pilaf, cheesy grits, or cornbread muffins. These amazing foods complement this recipe perfectly ensuring that you have a meal that is sure to impress everyone at the table.
Whatever you choose to pair these Crawfish Cakes with, be sure to savor each bite while enjoying the satisfying flavor of tender crawfish tails combined with all the savory ingredients in this recipe.
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
Once you get a taste of these mouthwatering Southern crawfish cakes, you’ll want to make them again and again. Luckily, this recipe is easy to store and reheat.
If you have leftover crawfish cakes, allow them to cool down completely before placing them in an airtight container. They can be stored in the fridge for up to three days.
To reheat the crawfish cakes, simply place them on a baking sheet and heat them in a preheated oven at 375°F for 10-12 minutes or until they are heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat them in a skillet over medium heat. Heat a tablespoon of butter or oil in the skillet and place the crawfish cakes on top of it. Cook for two to three minutes on each side or until they are golden brown and crispy.
If you’re making these delicious cakes ahead of time, you’ll want to store the cake mixture separately from the cracker crumbs until ready to fry. Prepare the cake mixture according to the recipe instructions up until it’s time to coat with cracker crumbs. Once complete, cover and place in fridge for up to 24 hours before shaping into cakes and cooking.
These delectable cakes are also great for freezing. Simply place the cooked crawfish cakes in an airtight container with parchment paper between each layer (to avoid sticking) and they will keep for up to two months. To reheat frozen crawfish cakes, thaw them overnight in the fridge then reheat as per above instruction.
Enjoy these Southern-style crawfish cakes any time of day by using these easy storing & reheating techniques!
Tips for Perfect Results
Now that you are ready to cook those delicious Southern Crawfish Cakes, here are some tips to ensure your cakes come out perfectly every time.
1. Make sure the crawfish tails are cooked and peeled properly before using them in the recipe. The texture of the crawfish is crucial to the overall taste and appearance of the cakes.
2. Use fresh herbs like parsley and green onion for added flavor. Fresh herbs will always have a stronger flavor compared to dried ones, so be sure to use them if you can.
3. If you don’t have mayonnaise, you can opt for Greek yogurt or sour cream mixed with a little bit of lemon juice instead. This will give your cakes a tangy flavor similar to mayonnaise.
4. Be careful not to over-mix the ingredients, as this can result in tough and dry crawfish cakes.
5. Fry the cakes on medium heat until they turn golden brown on both sides. This will ensure that the cakes are cooked all the way through and have a crispy texture.
6. If you don’t have saltine crackers, substitute with breadcrumbs or crushed crackers.
7. For extra heat, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce or horseradish sauce to the mixture.
8. Serve with a side of remoulade sauce or tartar sauce to complement the flavors of the crawfish cakes.
By following these tips, you can make sure that your Southern Crawfish Cakes come out perfectly every time – crispy on the outside and tender on the inside – making for a delicious meal any day of the week.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, the Southern Crawfish Cakes recipe is a must-try for anyone who loves seafood and southern-style cuisine. These delicious cakes are not only easy to make, but they are also versatile and can be enjoyed in various ways. Whether you’re looking for an appetizer to serve at a family gathering or a main course to satisfy your cravings, these crawfish cakes are sure to impress.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different variations and substitutions to make this recipe your own. Whether you decide to add more spice or switch up the seafood, there’s no limit to the possibilities of this recipe. And with the tips and recommendations provided in this article, you’ll have a foolproof guide to making perfect crawfish cakes every time.
So why not give this recipe a try? Impress your friends and family with a taste of southern hospitality and indulge in the delicious flavors of Louisiana crawfish. From crawfish boils and bisques to king cakes and bread, these delicate crustaceans never disappoint. So go ahead, make some Southern Crawfish Cakes tonight!
Southern Crawfish Cakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb crawfish tail, cooked and peeled (if using frozen, drain and rinse)
- 3 cups soft breadcrumbs, divided
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup green onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 fresh parsley sprigs, for garnish
Instructions
- Stir together crawfish, 2 cups breadcrumbs, and next 8 ingredients. Shape into 12 patties. Coat with remaining 1 cup breadcrumbs.
- Cook patties, in batches, in hot oil in a large skillet 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Drain on paper towels. Garnish with parsley and serve.