Cornmeal Crusted Crayfish Pies Recipes

CRAWFISH PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400° and have ready a greased, 9" (preferably deep dish) pie tin.
• Add butter to a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. As soon as the butter has melted, add the celery, bell pepper, and onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and sauté 1 minute more.
• Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir until evenly coated. Stir in the tomato paste and begin adding the chicken broth one big splash at a time, whisking after each addition. Do this until the mixture begins to resemble a thick pudding. Once this consistency is reached, the remaining broth can be added in.
• Add the Worcestershire, hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, and the bay leaf and allow the mixture to simmer, stirring often, about 6-8 minutes, until slightly thickened. Stir in the crawfish and tomatoes and simmer 5 minutes more. Set aside until ready to use.
• Roll out the pie dough so that it is a 1/4" thick. Lay one dough round on across the bottom of the pie dish, and allow the excess to lay over the sides of the dish.
• Pour the filling into the dish. Roll out the second dough round just the same, and place it over the dish. Crimp the edges of the pie crust together.
• To make the egg wash, whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of water, and using a pastry brush, lightly brush the mixture across the top crust and the edges. Create vent holes in the center of the pie, and transfer to a sturdy, rimmed baking sheet to catch any spillage.
• Bake the pie for 20 minutes. Then, reduce the temperature to 350° and bake for 25-28 minutes more, or until the top is golden-brown. Use a pie shield to prevent the edges from over-browning.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 15-20 minutes before cutting into. Serve and enjoy

MARY'S CRAYFISH PIES

Steps:

• TO MAKE THE CRUST: Lightly grease twenty-four 3-inch muffin cups with cooking spray (you may need to prepare the pies in two batches). In the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, pulse the 1 cup butter, 2 cups flour, cornmeal, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, and cayenne until the dough is the size of small peas. Add the eggs, egg yolks, and the 2 teaspoons ice water. Pulse until the dough begins to form a ball. (If you prefer, this can be done in a big bowl with your hands or a pastry cutter: work the butter, flour, cornmeal, salt, Cajun seasoning, and pepper together until they are the size of small peas. Add the eggs, egg yolks, and water and work until the dough forms a ball.) Pat the dough into a disk, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate while you make the crayfish filling.
• TO MAKE THE CRAYFISH FILLING: In a large, heavy skillet set over medium heat, melt the 1/2 cup butter until it bubbles. Slowly sprinkle on the 1/2 cup flour, stirring constantly until the mixture is combined. Add the yellow and green onions, bell pepper, and celery and cook, stirring constantly, for 15 minutes. Stir in the crayfish, garlic, brandy, cream, parsley, Tabasco, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, and cook an additional 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• To assemble the pies: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Sprinkle a work surface with flour. Pinch off enough cornmeal dough to make 1 1/2-inch balls. Press the dough balls into prepared muffin cups to cover the bottom and up the sides. Spoon the crayfish filling almost to the top of each pie shell. Bake until the filling is hot and the crust is crisp, about 30 minutes.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Freeze well-wrapped baked and cooled pies up to 3 weeks in advance. Thaw in the refrigerator the night before you plan to serve them. Bake for 15 minutes at 350°F to warm before serving.
• These may seem large, especially if you're serving them at a utensil-free cocktail party. (For a first course at a dinner party, I present them on plates with knives and forks.) For cocktail parties, cut them in halves or quarters and set them out on serving dishes so they can be easily picked up and eaten in a bite or two.

KARDEA'S CRAWFISH PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 4 single-serving clay pots or souffle dishes.
• In a pan set over medium-low heat, add the butter and oil. Add in the onions, green peppers and garlic and saute until the onions are transparent. Add the crawfish, seafood seasoning and red pepper, and cook 2 minutes stirring frequently. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted, then add the half-and-half. Add half of the asiago and stir.
• Cut the puff pastry to fit the shape of the serving dishes, and then set aside.
• Divide the mixture into the prepared dishes. Sprinkle with remaining asiago, then place the puff pastry on top. Brush the egg wash over the pastry, then bake until the tops are golden, 15 minutes. Serve hot.