Comfort Food From Louisiana: New Orleans Chef Recipe: Crabmeat-Shrimp Fritters, Creole Tomato Dressing: From Denny: Like to make easy fritters for the family for a quick meal? I sure remember those yummy clam or corn fritters my mother used to make on Saturdays when I was a kid. Apple fritters are equally tasty, especially when dusted with some cinnamon and sugar. So, when I run across yet another variation to The Fritter Family then I'm game to try it.
This new fritter recipe comes from New Orleans Chef John Besh and Zatarain's. Claw crabmeat, corn and small shrimp are featured in this recipe along with its own special tomato creole dressing. Pull out your food processor to make this easy tasty dressing of Creole seasoning, garlic, Creole mustard (like stone ground mustard) and tomato. Chill for an hour and then you are off to the dinner races!
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From Denny: This video is great for demonstrating how to make a roux fast and furious on the stove. If you are unfamiliar with how to make a roux then this video will prove useful. Making a roux to the desired color of choice is all about preference. New Orleans uses a very dark roux the color of milk chocolate, sometimes darker. In Baton Rouge we go for a lighter roux about the color of caramel candy.
The traditional roux most people know is what you use for a cream sauce - but you don't take it to the darker stages before adding water, milk or cream. A traditional roux is where you heat a pan, add butter or oil, then add flour until well dissolved, then adding the liquid quickly. The key to a good roux in Louisiana cooking, besides the color which adds a richer roasted flavor since you are basically pan roasting the flour, is to cook the roux and liquid for at least 30 minutes to cook out the flour flavor and glue like texture. That's when the dish gets to shine as awesome flavor, playing up the spices.
Since this is a local food video, and the local media doesn't usually keep embedded videos available past one year, I've included some recipes for crawfish etouffee and smothered crawfish (about the same thing).
Smothering your food sounds a bit psychopath to people outside the American South but it's a favorite of the slow food mindset in country Cajun cooking. What are some of the essentials for this smothering technique? You have to bring on board The Holy Trinity of diced onions, bell pepper and celery - along with some salt, pepper and garlic powder.
The smothering technique is also used for meat dishes like pan fried pork chops that are then covered and cooked with a small amount of liquid and veggies, creating a gravy. Basically, it's a kind of braising. First you sear the meat, then add the onions, bell pepper and celery, then the flour. When you add the flour this way you get a lighter brown roux. Add your liquid of choice and you don't have to worry about getting lumps in your gravy. Just cover and slow cook for a while until desired tenderness. Easy as can be!
It's one of those low maintenance dishes you can ignore for 30 minutes to an hour or keep on low heat until ready to serve. These kinds of slow food smothered dishes work well for busy households where everyone is on the go with different schedules but want a home cooked meal ready and waiting with ease. In the South we even smother potatoes and other vegetables besides meat dishes.
Chef Joe Caton, of Louisiana Lagniappe restaurant in Baton Rouge, serves up a classic Louisiana crawfish etouffee. He only offers this dish when the crawfish are in season and fresh. Be sure to visit Louisiana during crawfish season which lasts through May! The rest of the year you will only find the crawfish tails frozen.
If you don't have access to crawfish in your area then consider using shrimp, oysters or a meaty fish as any of those choices are equally wonderful!
Smothered Crawfish
From: The Louisiana Seafood Bible: Crawfish cookbook by Jerald and Glenda Horst
Serves: 4-6
Smothered Crawfish
Ingredients:
1 stick butter 2 medium onions, finely chopped 2 small bell peppers, finely chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 tbls. flour 2 lbs. crawfish tails 1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper Cooked rice
Directions:
1. Melt the butter in a cast-iron Dutch oven over low heat. Add the onions, bell peppers and garlic. Sauté over heat until the onions are transparent.
2. Add the flour and stir until blended.
3. Add the crawfish, salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Serve over cooked rice.
Tip: Smothering works best in a cast-iron pot over low heat. Take your time and do not rush this dish.
More recipes for Crawfish Etouffee from this blog:
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From Denny: When it comes to holidays, new Spring weather and the coming summer, Southern cooks in my area often turn to making coconut cream pie. It's a real crowd pleaser and great for school functions, family gatherings and holidays.
If you don't have the time to make your own pie crust just purchase one from the refrigerated section of your grocery store as many of them are quite good. If you never have made your own, take the challenge and enjoy the fun of "making it from scratch" as the old cooks used to say.
If you don't like meringue to top the pie you can always use a whipped cream topping, preferably the real thing and not the imitation. Also, if you get in a hurry and forget to place the coconut on the topping to toast as it bakes just add toasted coconut later to each individual piece as you serve!
2/3 cup sugar 3 tbls. cornstarch OR 1/3 cup all-purpose flour Small pinch of salt 2 cups milk 3 large eggs, (separate whites from yolks and place in separate bowls) 1-1/2 tbls. butter 1 tsp. vanilla 3/4 cup grated coconut 1/2 cup grated coconut for topping
Meringue:
3 egg whites at room temperature 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar 6 tbls. sugar 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions:
Coconut Cream (or Custard) Filling:
1. Prepare pie crust and bake. Allow to cool completely.
2. In medium saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch or flour and salt.
3. Gradually stir in the milk and mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Boil for about 1-1/2 minutes more, then remove from heat.
4. Beat egg yolks with a fork until they’re well blended. While stirring, slowly stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks; then add it back to the hot mixture. Cook, while constantly stirring, another 1 or 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat.
5. Stir in the butter, vanilla and 3/4 cup grated coconut. Pour into baked pie shell which has cooled completely.
Directions for Meringue:
1. Using a mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar together until frothy. Gradually start adding sugar a little bit at a time. Beat until stiff and glossy and sugar is dissolved. Beat in vanilla.
2. Drop spoonfuls onto hot custard in pie shell and spread meringue to meet edges of crust to prevent shrinking and weeping. Make swirls or dab spoon on top of meringue to make points. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup coconut.
3. Bake in preheated 400-degree oven until lightly browned, about 7 to 9 minutes.
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