Recipe: Crawfish Pie (not R & O's)

CRAWFISH PIE

12 to 16 ounce package of crawfish tail meat (NOTE: crawfish tails are fairly widely available now, in the frozen seafood section, usually in 12 or 16 ounce packages. They are already parboiled, so don't overcook)
Juice of 1 lemon (for marinade)
1/2 cup white wine (for marinade)
2 (9-inch) pie crusts
4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, minced
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon Creole seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup brandy
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, or to taste
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake 1 pie crust (this one will be used for bottom crust) for 6-8 minutes until light golden brown. Let crust cool.

Raise oven temperature to 375 degrees F.

Melt butter and oil in a large skillet. Saute onions, celery, bell pepper, Creole seasoning, and salt over medium heat. Stir for 4 minutes, until vegetables begin to soften.

Add flour. Mix this well. Cook for a few more minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in the crawfish. Add brandy. Flame to burn off alcohol.

Add garlic, then cook for a few more minutes.

Add the hot sauce, and cook a few minutes more.

Stir in the milk. Stir while heating milk to thicken slightly. Remove from burner.

Pour mixture into the browned 9 inch pie crust. Put 2nd (non browned) pie crust on top Press down on edges of crusts to seal. Slash top crust 3-4 times to vent.

Place pie on cookie sheet in oven to prevent bottom from over browning. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or until the top crust is lightly browned.
Let cool to room temperature before slicing. Serve immediately.

This pie freezes well. Wrap in 2 layers of foil before putting in freezer.
To serve: thaw (still wrapped in foil), then warm for 10 minutes in medium heat oven. Remove foil, then bake for 8 minutes more.

Yield: 6 slices
Source: International Bed & Breakfast Pages
Contributed by: Mary Ramsey, Innkeeper of 1870 Banana Courtyard
French Quarter/New Orleans B&B in New Orleans, Louisiana