Easy Mardi Gras Beignets

March 4, 2014 By
Photo by Eat with Dan

Photo by Eat with Dan

Mardi Gras is the perfect excuse to make a batch of soft, pillowy beignets. My issue with ‘standard’ beignets recipes is that they involve yeast and getting just the right warm water temperature. Who really wants to go through that on a week day?

This recipe is one that everyone can be successful with as all the ingredients get combined then fried. I know oil and frying can be intimidating, but with a heavy, deep pot, it’s a breeze.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 pinch Kosher salt
  • 1 ½ tsp. granulated sugar
  • 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • ¼ tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 2 quarts vegetable or canola oil for frying
  • ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar

Directions:

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine the baking powder, flour, salt and granulated sugar. Add the ricotta cheese, beaten eggs and vanilla and whish until combined. Stir over medium-low heat for 2 minutes – batter will be sticky. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  2. Heat the oil in a heavy, deep Dutch oven or pot until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 375 degrees. Oil should come no higher than a third of the depth of the pot. Taking this precaution will alleviate the risk of overflowing.
  3. Add the confectioners’ sugar to a medium paper bag.
  4. Drop tablespoonful of batter into the hot oil, 4 or 5 at a time, ensuring oil remains at 375 degrees. Fry the beignets until golden brown, about 3 or 4 minutes.
  5. Add hot beignets to the paper bag and shake to cover in confectioners’ sugar – the more sugar on the beignets, the better.

Makes 3 dozen beignets.

Filed Under: American, Desserts Tagged With: , ,
18 February 2012 Shrimp and Andouille Etouffée

Shrimp and Andouille Etouffée

February 18, 2012 By

In honor of Mardi Gras on February 21st, I’m offering this simple and delicious etouffée recipe.  In French, the word “étouffée” means “smothered”.  In Louisiana, food that is “smothered” is usually simmered in a small amount of liquid creating a thickened sauce that is served over rice.

The base for any good etouffée is the ‘holy trinity’, a combination of celery, onion and bell pepper, that’s cooked in a dark roux made of butter, oil and flour.  Etouffée can be made with crawfish, shrimp, chicken, and/or spicy sausage.

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 Andouille sausage links (about ½ pound), cut into bite size pieces
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 celery ribs, chopped
  • 1 green or red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 large garlic cloves, halved
  • 1 12-ounce bottle of medium-bodied beer
  • 1 cup bottled clam juice
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • ½ tsp. each salt and pepper
  • 2 Tbsp. paprika
  • 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 pound medium shrimps, shelled, deveined and cooked
  • 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Directions:

  1. Add oil to a heavy Dutch oven set over medium heat.  Add the sausage and cook for 2-3 minutes until browned.  Using a slotted spoon, remove the sausage from the pot and set aside for later use, keeping the rendered fat in the pot on medium heat.
  2. Add the butter to the hot fat in the pot and when completely melted, add the flour.  Whisk the flour into the fat to incorporate and create a roux.  Cook the roux, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until it is the color of peanut butter, about 10 minutes.
  3. Place the celery, bell pepper, onion and garlic in the bowl of a food processor.  Pulse to roughly chop, about 1 minute.
  4. Add the processed vegetables to the roux in the pot and stir with a wooden spoon to fully combine.  Cook the mixture over medium heat for 5 – 7 minutes, stirring frequently.
  5. Add the beer, clam juice and broth to the vegetable mixture and scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to loosen up all the brown bits.  Return the sausage to the pot, add the spices, bay leaves and simmer for about 1 hour.
  6. Add the shrimp to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes to warm through.
  7. Serve the etouffée over white rice and garnish with parsley.

Makes 6 servings.

 

 

Filed Under: American, Canadian, Entrees, French, Seafood, Vegetables Tagged With: , ,
17 August 2009 Creolina’s Crawfish Bisque

Creolina’s Crawfish Bisque

August 17, 2009 By

Crawfish BisqueCreolina’s was a wonderful Cajun restaurant in downtown Fort Lauderdale near my former place of employment. All its food was wonderful, but the crawfish bisque was outstanding.

I was able to get the recipe after it closed and sharing it so you can get addicted to it also.

Note that you could use gulf shrimp if crawfish is unavailable.

Ingredients:

  • 3 pounds crawfish
  • 2 ounces olive oil
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 2 quarts water
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 3 cups whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup chopped tomato
  • 4 Tbsp. brandy

Directions:

  1. Boil crawfish in a large pot of water. Drain and cool until crawfish can be handled easily. Remove tail and save shells. Refrigerate tail meat.
  2. Heat oil in large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add crawfish shells, paprika and cayenne. Sauté 5 minutes. Add water and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
  3. Strain liquid into another pan. Crush shells to remove remaining liquid and add that liquid. Discard shells.
  4. Return to heat and add onion, bell pepper, tomato paste, cream and tomato. Simmer 1 hour, stirring frequently. Add brandy and crawfish tail meat. Simmer 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Servings: 8

Filed Under: American, Seafood, Soups Tagged With: , , , , , ,