After cooking since childhood, he's now the spokesman (and makes videos with cooking tips - his YouTube channel is here.) for BBQGUYS.com (link here.)
During my Louisiana vacation, I got to visit my nieces Maranda and Candyse. That's when I met Chef Tony for the first time - he is Candyse's boyfriend (and now husband.)
Hanging out, we went though Chef Tony's vast culinary repertoire looking for recipes worthy of shooting, finally narrowing it down to a Cajun classic: Crawfish Etouffee. So for this cooking video, I'm stepping aside and letting a Cajun cuisine expert take over!
Candyse, Tony and the Chintzy Chef
I thought it would be fun to use the local delicacy, crawfish. (In an earlier video I showed you where locals get them, and how to eat one. Click here to refresh your memory.)
For Chef Tony's recipe, he uses a pound of locally harvested, "partially" cooked and peeled Crawfish tail meat. To make seafood Etouffee cheaply at home, I would use three thawed 5-ounce packages of bay shrimp (or scallops) from my local Alberson's market or 99c only Store. For an even cheaper version, use a pound of fake crab (Krab) -- or, you could even make a Chicken and Sausage Etouffee.
Chef Tony uses butter, which you can substitute with a favorite oil. The Etouffee veggies are cheap anywhere - just bell pepper, tomato, onion and garlic. He also added a seafood broth from a small can of oysters (whole or pieces), which I still find at my local 99c Only Store - you could substitute with clam juice.
Alternate Seafood
You are in competent hands with Chef Tony, as he guides you though the steps in making a luscious Crawfish Etouffee. I've added a short video extra of Chef Tony's Rice Recipe in the Directions section at the end of this blogpost.
Also included are a few ingredient substitutions and shortcuts that make it cheaper or more convenient. Of course, Chef Tony would prefer you go his buttery way -- it tastes best.
To see a Louisiana chef in action, just click on the videos below to get the surprisingly easy instructions.
Crawfish Etouffee Recipe - Video
Play it here. The video runs 6 minutes, 57 seconds.
To view or embed from youtube, click here.
Ingredients (2-3 servings)
- 1 pound crawfish tails - or peeled shrimp. Other versions include: Krab, Scallop, Sausage or Chicken. Or combine a couple of them.
- 1 whole onion - diced
- 1/2 each red and green bell pepper - okay to dice one whole bell pepper, any color.
- 2 Roma tomatoes - or 1 large tomato, chopped. Okay to use 1 can of tomatoes or favorite pasta sauce.
- 1 1/4 stick of butter - The 1/4 stick of butter is added to Etouffee just before serving (optional.) Okay to substitute 3 tablespoons of favorite oil, for a lighter version - 2 tbsp. for sauteing and 1 just before serving.
- 2 cloves of garlic - about a teaspoon, minced, or pre-chopped from jar.
- 3 green onions - sliced. Discard roots and old green ends - use white and light green parts.
- 1/2 bunch of parsley - chopped
- Broth from small can of cooked oysters - or clam juice (this is for extra seafood flavor - you could leave it out.) If you are using fresh shrimp, boil shells (and heads) in 3 cups of water, then remove shells - this is all the liquid you will need.
- 2 cups of water - for Etouffee broth
- 2 teaspoons of cornstarch - into reserved 1/2 cup oyster/water broth.
- 1/4 teaspoon of Old Bay Seasoning - optional.
- 2 whole bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce - optional
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Directions
To a pot over medium heat, (or large skillet) add 1 stick of butter, and melt. For a lighter version you could get away with half the amount of butter, or substitute 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Roughly chop one whole onion and 1/2 red and green bell pepper. Mix in tomato, bell pepper and tomato and cook 10-12 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Add minced garlic and cook about 30 seconds.
Now to make a simple seafood stock. Pour liquid from a can of cooked oysters into 2 cups of water (discard cooked oysters.) Okay to use small can of clam juice, or a cup of stock from boiled shrimp shells. Set aside 1/2 cup of stock for later.
Simmer veggies and oyster broth for about half an hour to bring all the flavors together.
Now time to add the seafood. Add 1 pound of peeled crawfish or shrimp.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer. Add 2 whole bay leaves. You can shake in a few shots of your favorite hot sauce - optional. Cook uncovered for 10 more minutes at low heat.
Now we wrap it up. Add chopped green onions and parsley (I've also made it without these veggie additions.)
Spoon 2 teaspoons of cornstarch into 1/2 cup of reserved seafood broth -- blend well. Stir cornstarch liquid into pot of veggies and crawfish. Sauce should start to thicken into a gravy after a couple of minutes. Let it cook for about five more minutes over low heat.
Just before serving, add 1/4 stick of butter to sauce and stir until melted (or substitute a tablespoon of olive oil). Also, discard bay leaves.
Serve over white or brown rice. And get out the hot sauce and beer (or wine)!
Hindsight
Shortcuts include: leaving out parsley, green onions, Old Bay Seasoning, and canned oyster broth. You could also substitute flour for cornstarch. Chef Tony uses a lot of butter, I'm sure half the amount would work just fine.
You will need to cook an extra hour if you are making a Chicken and Sausage Etouffee. You want liquid in sauce to reduce some and the chicken to cook all the way -- so simmering time may vary, depending on your pot and stove top heat. Also leave out oyster broth.
I would start the rice during veggie simmering stage, either white or brown. Follow bag directions, or watch Chef Tony's Rice Recipe below.
Play it here. The video runs 1 minutes, 17 seconds.
To view or embed from youtube, click here.
