Cajun Style French Bread Recipes

NEW ORLEANS FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast, salt and sugar in warm water.
• Gradually stir in flour, adding only until the mixture refuses to absorb more.
• On a floured board knead the dough for 3-4 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and brush the top lightly with butter.
• Cover with a damp cloth.
• Set the dough aside in a warm place to rise for 1 1/2 hours or until it is double in bulk.
• Butter a baking sheet and sprinkle it with cornmeal, shaking off the excess.
• Punch down the dough.
• Transfer the dough to a floured board and divide it into thirds.
• Roll each portion into an 8 x 13 inch rectangle.
• Roll each rectangle up from the long side, seal and shape ends.
• Place the loaves on the prepared baking sheet and with a sharp knife make several diagonal cuts across the tops.
• Brush lightly with melted butter.
• Let rise in a warm place about 45 minutes.
• Place the bread on the middle rack in oven.
• Place a pan of hot water on bottom of oven.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 5 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking for 30 minutes.
• Note: Cooking time includes rising times.

CAJUN CRAWFISH-STUFFED FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• Melt butter in medium saucepan on medium high heat. Add onions, bell pepper, and celery and saute' for 5 minutes.
• Add cayenne pepper, black pepper, paprika, and garlic and stir well. Stir in white wine and seafood stock, bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low.
• Add crawfish tails and salt and mix well. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. If using shrimp, don't add until the last 5 minutes of the 20.
• Gradually add cream cheese until melted, stirring often and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add green onions and parsley and a little more white wine if mixture is too thick.
• Cut bread in half and scoop out center portion of French bread loaf. Fill bottom portion with crawfish mixture. Place top half on top, brush with melted butter and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.

CAJUN BREAD (REGULAR LOAF)

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in your bread maker in the order given.
• Set to regular or rapid bake cycle.