Lagniappe Ingredients in the Crawfish Boil

Lagniappe ingredients equal flavor!
Cajun cuisine is described as rustic and resourceful. The methods used in today's crawfish boils clearly reflect the style of cooking during the pioneering days of southwest Louisiana. Large, one-pot dishes were prepared to feed the many family members and friends, locally available staple ingredients helped stretch the meal out, home-grown vegetables were utilized, and upon completion, the meal became a social gathering event. When looking for that perfect crawfish boil recipe, everyone has their own style and there is no right or wrong. Sure, there are essential guidelines when it comes to the crawdads, spices, salt, water, and temperature, but true Cajun fashion …show more content…
These veggies and citrus fruits add layers of flavor in addition to dry or liquid spices. Onions, garlic, celery, lemons, and sometimes oranges are commonly used to add more taste to the pot. Garlic lovers will fight for the tender cloves mixed in with the heaping mound of crawfish. Aside from the garlic, there usually aren't many grabbing for the cut lemons, onions, or other seasoning veggies. Leave it to a clever Cajun to throw some tasty lagniappe lying around the kitchen into the pot. With these additions, it is important to keep a mental timer going and have a general idea of how long they take to cook. Some veggies will take a little longer than the crawfish, while others will be ready soon after they hit the boiling water. Overcooked ingredients can turn to mush or disintegrate in the pot. Since the crawfish are the main ingredient, figure out how long you will be cooking them first, and use that time to gauge the other ingredients. Anything cooking longer than the crawfish should be added before, and anything requiring less time can be added after. If you are unsure of how long something takes to cook, and need to check it periodically for doneness, place the ingredients in one of the plastic mesh bags that bulk produce comes in. This way, everything stays together and is easier to find in your boiling pot. After a few tries you will find what works and what doesn't. Before you know it, you will have come up with your own personal boiling recipe additions. If you are the experimental type, you probably have your basic routine down to a science, and will try a new and different tweak every