Crayfish Bisque

Name: Crayfish Bisque
Ingredients: 8 pounds whole crayfish, cooked; 1/4 cup bacon drippings; 1/4 cup butter or margarine; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 2 cups finely chopped onion; 1 cup finely chopped celery; 1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper; 1 clove garlic, minced; 4 cups hot water; 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce with tomato bits; 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 2 bay leaves; 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper; 8 whole allspice; 3 cups hot cooked rice

18 ingredients

3 steps

Ingredients

8 pounds whole crayfish, cooked
1/4 cup bacon drippings
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups finely chopped onion
1 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups hot water
2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce with tomato bits
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red pepper
8 whole allspice
3 cups hot cooked rice

Directions

1

Break off crayfish tails, snap in half lengthwise, and lift out meat in one piece; discard tail shells. Snap off large claws (if desired, break claws with nutcracker, and remove bits of meat) and smaller legs; discard. Cut off top of head just behind eyes; discard. Scoop body shell clean, carefully removing and reserving yellow fat; discard intestinal matter. Clean and thoroughly wash 48 body shells, referred to as crayfish heads; set aside. Grind tail meat to yield 3 cups, reserving 1 cup for bisque and remaining 2 cups for Stuffed Crayfish Heads.
2

Melt bacon drippings and butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat; add flour and cook, stirring constantly, 15 minutes or until browned. Add onion, celery, green pepper, and garlic, mixing well. Cover and cook 5 minutes or until tender. Gradually stir in water. Add tomato sauce, parsley, lemon juice, bay leaves, thyme, salt, pepper, and allspice; mix well. Stir in 1 cup crayfish meat and reserved crayfish fat. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaves and whole allspice.
3

To serve, ladle into individual soup bowls over hot cooked rice, and place 6 Stuffed Crayfish Heads in each bowl.