Savory Crawfish Beignets

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

• •Large Dutch oven or deep cast iron skillet (at least 5-quart)
• •Deep-fry or candy thermometer
• •Slotted spoon or spider strainer
• •Wire cooling rack
• •Sheet pan

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the remoulade

   Whisk together the mayonnaise, Creole mustard, lemon juice, hot sauce, grated garlic, smoked paprika, and cayenne in a small bowl. Taste it. The sauce should have a pleasant kick that builds slowly, not a punch in the mouth. Adjust the heat and salt to your liking. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the beignets. The flavor deepens as it sits.

   Creole mustard has a coarse texture and vinegary bite that regular Dijon cannot match. Zatarain's is the classic choice.
2. 2

   Season the crawfish

   Spread the drained crawfish on paper towels and pat dry. Excess moisture makes for soggy beignets. Transfer to a bowl and season with a pinch of salt and cayenne. Toss gently. This is your first layer of flavor, building from the inside out. Set aside.

3. 3

   Build the batter base

   Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne, black pepper, and smoked paprika in a large bowl. Make a well in the center. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, then whisk in the milk and melted butter until smooth.

4. 4

   Combine wet and dry

   Pour the wet ingredients into the well of the dry. Stir with a wooden spoon until just combined. A few small lumps are fine, even preferable. Overworking the batter develops gluten and makes tough beignets. You want pillowy, not chewy.

   The batter should be thick enough to hold a spoon upright, like a drop biscuit dough. If it seems too thick, add milk one tablespoon at a time.
5. 5

   Fold in the good stuff

   Add the minced holy trinity (onion, celery, bell pepper), the white parts of the green onions, garlic, and parsley to the batter. Fold gently to distribute. Now add the seasoned crawfish and fold again, being careful not to break up the tail meat too much. You want chunks in every bite.

6. 6

   Heat the oil

   Pour oil into a large Dutch oven or deep cast iron skillet to a depth of three inches. Heat over medium-high until a deep-fry thermometer reads 360°F. This temperature is important: too cool and the beignets absorb oil and turn greasy, too hot and the outside burns before the inside cooks through. The oil should shimmer and a drop of batter should sizzle immediately and float to the surface.

7. 7

   Fry in batches

   Working in batches of five or six, drop rounded tablespoons of batter into the hot oil. Do not crowd the pot. The beignets will sink briefly, then bob to the surface. Fry for two to three minutes per side, turning once with a slotted spoon, until deeply golden brown all over. The color should remind you of a perfect roux, that rich amber-brown.

   Keep your oil temperature steady by letting it recover between batches. Rushing leads to inconsistent results.
8. 8

   Drain and season immediately

   Transfer fried beignets to a wire rack set over a sheet pan, or a plate lined with paper towels. While they're still glistening with oil, dust with a light shower of cayenne and a pinch of flaky salt. This final seasoning layer sticks to the surface and wakes up every bite. That's the bayou way.

9. 9

   Serve hot

   Arrange beignets on a platter and scatter the reserved green onion tops over the pile. Serve immediately with the Creole remoulade for dipping. These are best eaten within ten minutes of frying, while the outside is still crackling and the inside stays tender. Watch them disappear.

Chef Tips

• •Louisiana crawfish is worth seeking out. The tail meat is sweeter and more tender than imports. If you can't find it fresh, frozen Louisiana tails work fine, just thaw and drain them well. At Lagniappe, we refuse to use anything that wasn't swimming in our bayous.
• •The batter can be made an hour ahead and refrigerated. Fold in the crawfish just before frying so the meat doesn't break down and release moisture.
• •If your crowd is sensitive to heat, cut the cayenne in half and serve extra hot sauce on the side. You can always add fire, but you can't take it away.
• •Peanut oil has the highest smoke point and cleanest flavor for frying. Vegetable oil works too. Avoid olive oil here, as it smokes at frying temperatures and adds a flavor that doesn't belong.
• •These pair beautifully with an ice-cold Abita Amber or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. The acidity cuts through the richness.

Advance Preparation

• •The remoulade improves overnight and keeps refrigerated for up to one week. Make it a day ahead for best flavor.
• •The dry ingredients can be whisked together and stored in an airtight container for up to three days.
• •Fried beignets do not hold well. They must be served immediately. Do not attempt to make these ahead, as reheating turns them leathery. Plan to fry while guests are arriving so they go straight from pot to mouth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nutrition Information

1 serving (about 170g)