Top 5 Appetizers to Add to Your Cajun Seafood Menu
Cajun seafood boil is a favorite among natives of the Southern United States, particularly Louisiana. Shrimp, corn, potatoes, and other vegetables are typical ingredients in this communal dish. Cajun seasoning is a way to give the food its distinct flavor and spicy taste.
Let’s have a look at the recipe for the Cajun seafood boil just like you have the one at a Cajun restaurant.
The Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of shrimp
- 1 pound of crab legs
- 1 pound of crawfish
- 1 pound of andouille sausage
- 2 pounds of shrimp
- Three ears of corn, divided into three parts
- 2 pounds of small red potatoes
- 1 sliced onion
- 1 lemon slice
- 8 minced garlic cloves
- 3 teaspoons of Old Bay seasoning
- 3 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning
- Salt to taste
- ¼ Teaspoon of Black pepper
- 6 cups of water
Procedure
1. Get the seafood ready first. Devein the shrimp, rinse and peel the crawfish and slice the crab legs into pieces. Set aside.
2. Cut the Andouille sausage into slices and set it aside.
3. In a large pot, mix the water, lemon, onion, garlic, Cajun seasoning, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and black pepper. The mixture should now start to rapidly boil.
4. After adding the potatoes and corn to the stew, cook them for 10 minutes.
5. After adding the Andouille sausage to the stew, cook it for an additional five minutes.
6. Add the seafood to the pot and boil for another 5-7 minutes, or until the prawns and crawfish are pink and cooked through.
7. Switch off the oven and empty the pot containing water.
Appetizers
If you enjoy Cajun food, you should always start your menu with some amazing appetizers, especially if you’re preparing seafood meals. Here are some of the best seafood appetizers you may include on your Cajun seafood menu.
Barbeque Shrimp
The Cajun BBQ prawns are one of the city’s most popular seafood dishes. This dish involves shrimp cooked in butter with moderate Cajun flavor to achieve the correct equilibrium for the dish.
In the past, people didn’t peel or cut the shrimp into pieces before cooking them. This improves the flavor of the dish while preserving the shrimp’s unique flavor.
You may still utilize the leftover shrimp to create additional recipes if you wish because this recipe just calls for minimum preparation and seasoning. It’s likely that no one will realize that their meal contains leftover shrimp.
Cajun-Style Fried Deviled Eggs
This dish immediately catches your attention due to its attractive appearance. Fry them in large quantities to kick off your BBQ party because they are fast to prepare. This dish appears difficult, but it is a lot easier than you may imagine.
When you bite into it, you will taste the mildly spicy flavor that is typical of Cajun food on the inside and the chewy texture of the egg when you fry it to a crispy golden color on the outside. It will be a wise choice to serve this dish to your diners over the holidays.
Cajun Broiled Shrimp
This dish’s recipe is quite simple because it only calls for the most common shrimp varieties and a few additional basic seasonings, such as cajun seasoning. For added flavor, you can also include butter and lemon. The addition of lemon juice will balance the sauce mixture.
This quick and easy appetizer goes well with rice, noodles, beans, and other side dishes. Because of their shells, eating shrimps might be a little painful. But still, those difficulties won’t be worthwhile with this delicacy.
Cajun Shrimp and Corn Cakes
This dish will be simpler for you to envision if you are already familiar with crab cakes. In this recipe, you will combine bread flour, eggs, and spiced shrimp mince, then pan-fry them until they are crispy and golden.
The use of corn in three different forms which are corn kernels, corn cream, and cornmeal. It makes the cake even more unique. These components aid in the cake’s ability to maintain its crisp exterior while retaining its moisture and sweetness on the inside.
Although corn plays a significant part in this dish, the shrimp are its standout ingredient. You won’t be able to stop eating fresh shrimp meat with a crispy shell and water inside.
Sausage and Shrimp Gumbo
As the name indicates, the major components of this dish are Cajun-cooked sausages and shrimp. The gumbo portion is another unique element of this dish. You must perfectly cook the butter and flour to create a flavorful gumbo mixture. To ensure that your mixture is golden and doesn’t burn, keep stirring regularly.
The Bottom Line
You have a variety of alternatives when incorporating some appetizers to your Cajun seafood menu. These top 5 appetizers will definitely improve your menu and give your guests a memorable dining experience.
Moreover, for delectable Cajun seafood recipes, you may visit Red Crab Juicy Seafood Restaurant.