Crawfish Bread

Crawfish Bread

Crawfish bread is a delicious and savory dish often found in Louisiana and Southern cooking, particularly at festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. It combines a flavorful crawfish stuffing baked inside a soft, cheesy bread dough, making for a great appetizer or side dish. Here’s a recipe for Crawfish Bread that you can try at home.

Ingredients:

For the Bread Dough:

• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 cup warm water (around 110°F or 43°C)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil (or vegetable oil)
• 1 egg, beaten (for brushing the dough)

For the Crawfish Filling:

• 1 pound cooked crawfish tails (peeled and chopped if necessary)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 bell pepper, finely chopped (green or red)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup chicken or seafood broth
• 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Bread Dough:

• In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until the yeast becomes foamy.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil to the bowl with flour and stir until a dough forms.
• Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
• Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.

2. Prepare the Crawfish Filling:

• While the dough is rising, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, garlic, and celery to the pan and sauté for 4–5 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.
• Add the crawfish tails to the pan and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the cayenne, paprika, thyme, and Creole seasoning (if using). Stir well to combine and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Pour in the heavy cream and broth, stirring to create a creamy mixture. Let it simmer for 5 minutes to thicken slightly. Remove from heat.
• Stir in the grated cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to cool while the dough finishes rising.

3. Assemble the Crawfish Bread:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Once the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll it into a rectangle, about 12 inches by 8 inches.
• Spread the crawfish mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges. (You can use a spoon or offset spatula to spread it evenly.)
• Roll the dough up like a jelly roll, starting from one of the short edges.
• Pinch the ends to seal the roll and tuck them underneath to create a loaf-like shape. Carefully transfer the rolled dough to a greased baking sheet.
• Brush the top of the dough with the beaten egg to give it a golden finish.

4. Bake the Crawfish Bread:

• Bake the crawfish bread in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
• Once baked, remove from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes before slicing.

5. Serve:

• Slice the crawfish bread into thick slices and garnish with chopped green onions for a fresh pop of color.
• Serve warm as an appetizer, side dish, or snack.

Tips:

• Crawfish tails: If you can’t find fresh crawfish, you can use frozen crawfish tails or even shrimp as a substitute.
• Cheese: Feel free to experiment with different cheeses like Monterey Jack, Gouda, or a spicy pepper jack for extra flavor.
• Spices: If you like more heat, add some diced jalapeños or extra cayenne pepper to the filling.

Crawfish bread is a perfect dish for gatherings or just to enjoy at home. Its combination of savory crawfish, creamy filling, and fluffy bread is hard to resist!