Mixed Cajun Etouffee Recipes

MIXED CAJUN ETOUFFEE

Steps:

• In a large hot skillet, brown the sausage quickly over high heat to seal in juices.
• Remove to medium size bowl. Go ahead and taste a piece if you want.
• Add the chicken breasts to the same pan and quickly brown both sides, cooking through. If the breasts are really thick, you may want to slice them in half or pound them so they will cook through without burning the outside.
• Remove chicken to cutting board to cool.
• Meanwhile, throw shrimp in pan and give a quick browning (no more than 45-60 seconds).
• Add browned shrimp to bowl with sausage. The shrimp doesn't tempt me as much as the sausage, but go ahead a sample a piece if you want.
• Now head back to the chicken. Should be cool enough to handle if you're careful. Either shred into bite size pieces or dice with a sharp knife.
• Add to the shrimp and sausage.
• Measure out one cup of beer and set aside.
• Pour the remaining beer over the meat mixture.
• Add chopped parsley and combine well.
• Using the same skillet that you browned your meat in, melt the butter over medium heat, scraping up the browned bits of meat.
• Whisk in flour a little at a time, stirring continuously until smooth.
• Continue cooking until roux (flour and butter mixture) is nice and browned, 10-15 minutes. Don't rush it by turning up the heat or you'll burn it.
• Add onions, celery, peppers and garlic to roux.
• Cook 4-5 minutes until crisp-tender.
• Stir in spices and cook another 5-10 minutes.
• At this point, I transfer to a bigger pot because I don't have a big enough skillet. If you need to do this, heat your bigger pot a few minutes before you add the chicken broth and beer (next step)so it's ready to go. If just using one pot, ignore this step.
• Add remaining cup of beer and chicken broth to roux/veggie mixture. Add hot sauce if desired.
• Stir well to combine, cover and simmer 10-15 minutes.
• Pour meat mixture into pot and combine well.
• Continue cooking 5-10 minutes longer.
• Serve with hot rice.

SEAFOOD ETOUFFEE

Steps:

• In large, heavy pan melt the butter. Stir in the flour and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly for 20 to 25 minutes or until a dark reddish-brown roux is formed.
• Stir in the undrained tomatoes and chilies, water, sliced carrot and celery, chopped onion and green peppers, basil, salt, minimum amount of cayenne (can always be adjusted up later), and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and simmer about 25 minutes until vegetables are tender. Adjust the hotness with additional cayenne if desired. (Can be prepared to this point with the vegetables undercooked, then refrigerated to be reheated and completed right before serving).
• With the stew simmering, add the shrimp and crabmeat and simmer uncovered for 3 to 5 minutes, until the shrimp are pink and cooked through.
• Serve in bowls with stew on the bottom and a mound of rice atop. Serve with a crusty French bread.

CAJUN CRAWFISH AND SHRIMP ÉTOUFFéE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Gradually stir in flour, and stir constantly until the mixture turns 'peanut butter' brown or darker, at least 15 or 20 minutes. I use a large fork with the flat side to the bottom of the pan in a side to side motion. This is your base sauce or 'roux'. It is very important to stir this constantly. If by chance the roux burns, discard and start over.
• Once the roux is browned, add the onions, garlic, celery and bell pepper to the skillet, and saute for about 5 minutes to soften. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and fish stock, and season with the seafood seasoning. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Season the sauce with hot pepper sauce and cayenne pepper (if using), and add the crawfish and shrimp. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the shrimp are opaque.