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Crawdads aka Crawfish, Crayfish

I've got family that live in on the Gulf coast in Mobile, Alabama. On every visit, I always get treated with "crawdads." The locals there have their favorite spots and most I've tried are amazing. I don't think that the food has a long history there, but something that crept across from the bayous of Louisiana. Regardless, they are cooked with various recipes of spicy "crab boil." Certainly not a staple food here in my Palmetto state. Had lunch today with some buds at a better local Chinese buffet. They had crawdads and I indulged on a gluttonous three plates full. They were very good to my surprise but not "great" like the ones I had in Alabama. The spice was heavy Jalapeno as you can see in the pics. I have been told that there is a place locally that has bags of frozen crawdads. All of that to ask this simple question...
 
Does anyone here have a good recipe they will share? My palette has been activated. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.. - Reggie
 

 
 
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Jubnat said:
Yeah, I agree with you on the dry seasoning. It only gets on my lips and under my fingernails, and none in my mouth.

Here's a couple of interesting articles I read from the LSU Ag center:

http://apps.lsuagcenter.com/news_archive/2014/february/headline_news/Myths-persist-about-saltwater-purges-tail-curl-for-cooking-crawfish.htm

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/communications/publications/agmag/archive/2014/winter/effectiveness-of-a-saltwater-bath-in-purging-crawfish
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I agree with those, purging won't clean the intestinal track but it will clean some mud from the lungs. Another thing I noticed when I get a sack from a farmer that's been out of the water for a while, the crawfish's lungs will absorb more salt when purging and I can taste it when it's boiled.
 
Lunch.....
 
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sobelri said:
Lunch.....
 
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pull dat tail, suck da head  :!:
nom nom nom 
 
yes i can eat things that i also keep as pets...
just not after it's been named :lol:
once it's a pet, it's a pet.
the wife, not so much
she's eaten bunny and crayfish 
but feels guilty 
she wont let me get a duck
because she likes eating duck on the rare occasion we have it   :rolleyes:
 
 The bunnies have been taunting me a lot this year in the backyard
so many have lined up perfectly...
i've had a couple in the crosshairs but didnt take the shot 
i only use the air rifle for cans and walnuts
 
i think i might have talked her into crayfish tail tacos instead of shrimp tacos tonight though  ;)
:party:
 
peppersproutfarm said:
Crawfish is the only acceptable term around here. I'm pretty sure you get laughed out of the seafood shop if you were to say anything else. LMAO
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Pokin' a little fun here, OK?  As of 2005, Louisiana supplies 95% of the crayfish harvested in the U.S. I would respect the local vernacular....
 
Up here in New England seafood shops sell lawbstas.....
 
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I figure you have seafood shops down there that sell the warm water spiny ones. (Note the lack of two large claws near the head?)
 
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So why in the world would you buy mudbugs at a seafood store to suck tails? 
 
Note no large claws
 
New update. Several local places are already serving hot boiled crawfish. The mid January date I was given is when I can get them live. Guess I know what I'm doing for lunch today. And lobster is great and all but I'd take 10 lb of spicy boiled crawfish over any steamed lobster any day. But hey I'm also partial to a fillet of catfish over tuna.
 
Prices are up as usual for early season but dey sure is tasty Sha!!! 5.99 per lb boiled from my local seafood spot. I ate myself a 3 lb snack yesterday for lunch. Pictured is one of four boil pots in the restaurant that holds up to 40 lb each.
 

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