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Crawfish boil depth of flavor

Posted on 5/29/23 at 6:53 pm
Posted by Tiger in Nashvegas
Nashville, TN
Member since Nov 2022
1 post
Posted on 5/29/23 at 6:53 pm
Anyone have any suggestions for a bit of umami to add for my crawfish? The spice is there, easy to peel and tender, but there's something that's just missing from other good boils I've had. Currently using Zat's and Slap ya mama powder, some Zat's liquid and a few crab boil bags, plus lemons, oranges, and a few other obvious spices and such. I can't imagine adding butter but I've seen it suggested....
Posted by Btrtigerfan
Disgruntled employee
Member since Dec 2007
21455 posts
Posted on 5/29/23 at 6:59 pm to
Celery seed (a good bit) is a somewhat popular ingredient in the newer boil seasonings. I don't skimp on the garlic either.
Posted by OTIS2
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
50118 posts
Posted on 5/29/23 at 7:04 pm to
Orange juice concentrate, white vinegar, add more Zats liquid. Chackbay has the Chinese red pepper pop.
Posted by WilWood
BFE Louisiana
Member since Apr 2023
166 posts
Posted on 5/29/23 at 7:19 pm to
I haven’t used Zatarains in years, switched over to Louisiana. I do add a couple sticks of butter, a small bottle of liquid boil and salt. Been coming out spot on for my family and friends’ liking.
Posted by TigerMan327
Elsewhere
Member since Feb 2011
5156 posts
Posted on 5/29/23 at 8:33 pm to
Basic Zatarains is probably one of the worst flavored powders out there tbh.

Adding butter is useless.

Change to Zat Pro Boil or Louisiana Cajun fire.(in combo with your swamp fire)

If you wanna add a new secret ingredient. Try a few bottles of Worcestershire
This post was edited on 5/29/23 at 8:36 pm
Posted by keakar
Member since Jan 2017
30008 posts
Posted on 5/29/23 at 8:46 pm to
quote:

I can't imagine adding butter but I've seen it suggested....



butter is just the keep it from boiling over, it reduces the foaming effect

try adding a bag of crab boil, it has celery seed and pepper corns in it, it adds extra flavors not in the dry mix or liquid

when i do it i do a bag of crab boil, a bottle of liquid, and a tub of the dry mix and its perfect for my liking
This post was edited on 5/29/23 at 8:48 pm
Posted by Obtuse1
Westside Bodymore Yo
Member since Sep 2016
25628 posts
Posted on 5/29/23 at 8:58 pm to
quote:

Try a few bottles of Worcestershire



That should bump the umami. I wonder if soy or fish sauce might be even better for upping the umami maybe even miso paste.

One problem with crawfish is experiments tend to be expensive.
Posted by Tiger4Life
God's Country
Member since Jan 2004
551 posts
Posted on 5/29/23 at 9:02 pm to
Couple of bottles of Liquid Smoke
Posted by CoachChappy
Member since May 2013
32537 posts
Posted on 5/29/23 at 9:18 pm to
Just soak them longer
Posted by tigercross
Member since Feb 2008
4918 posts
Posted on 5/29/23 at 10:29 pm to
I’ve used tamari, Worcestershire, and fish sauce at different times. They all 3 added the flavor I felt was missing.
Posted by sumtimeitbeslikedat
Vidalia, La
Member since Nov 2013
4424 posts
Posted on 5/30/23 at 12:06 am to
Pineapple and paprika. Oranges, lemons, garlic cloves, lousianne (dry and liquid), shrooms, corn, potatoes. Don’t boil for any more than 3 minutes, then hit with ice as soon as you cut the fire and they’ll suck up that juicy goodness and sink to the bottom. Worst thing you can do, in my opinion, is overcook them. Let ‘em soak 15-20 mins. I do my veggies first, then add more seasoning, lemon, oranges, my sausage, the crawfish, and pineapple. Don’t need salt. The liquid they soak up along with the fat from the sausage makes em peel like a dream.
This post was edited on 5/30/23 at 12:09 am
Posted by MightyYat
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2009
24390 posts
Posted on 5/30/23 at 12:48 am to
I swear to Christ….. butter, fish sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce? If you’re adding this shite you might just want to stick with grilling burgers and hot dogs.
Posted by SixthAndBarone
Member since Jan 2019
8175 posts
Posted on 5/30/23 at 6:54 am to
Yep. A bottle of seasoning. MAYBE extra salt or red pepper depending on the crowd. Then add your choice of onions, garlic, or lemons. What else do you need? Stop overthinking crawfish and stop trying to find the new flavor so you can be different.

99% of the different ingredients in crawfish boils is done by either someone who is trying to be different or saw someone else doing it.

Cook the crawfish correctly with the normal seasonings and they will be great!
Posted by Midget Death Squad
Meme Magic
Member since Oct 2008
24556 posts
Posted on 5/30/23 at 8:15 am to
quote:

Celery seed


I use this as well. It's an underrated seasoning
Posted by GynoSandberg
Member since Jan 2006
72011 posts
Posted on 5/30/23 at 8:29 am to
Celery seed

You can’t really over season crawfish outside of salt. Add more garlic and citrus. Add more salt free seasonings
Posted by SmokedBrisket2018
Member since Jun 2018
1518 posts
Posted on 5/30/23 at 8:32 am to
Did bell peppers most recent boil.
Very good, could taste it a bit in the heads.
Posted by Potchafa
Avoyelles
Member since Jul 2016
3217 posts
Posted on 5/30/23 at 9:19 am to
1 - Sack of bugs extra clean. Clean crawfish=good crawfish.
1 - 1 big bag LA boil
1 - 1 large bottle of LA liquid boil
1 - quart of salt
6 - lemons halves squeezed
1 - Garlic booster
1 - small bottle of worchester sauce

Boil 3 mins shutdown - one sack of ice - soak till they sink. ~ 20 mins.
Posted by NOLALGD
Member since May 2014
2234 posts
Posted on 5/30/23 at 11:01 am to
quote:

You can’t really over season crawfish outside of salt. Add more garlic and citrus. Add more salt free seasonings


Best answer so far. Will add if you want it spicier add more cayenne, carefully. And I also soak till float and understand there is an absorption point. But soaking longer doesn't hurt as long as you're not leaving them in water for hours.
Posted by jp4lsu
Member since Sep 2016
4971 posts
Posted on 5/30/23 at 3:11 pm to
I didn't see any onions or garlic. It is hard to get too many onions or lemons, IMO. Let all that boil together real good with all the other spices and boil liquids.

Then let'em soak for 30 min, while getting that temperature down to 150-160 pretty quickly.
Posted by TigerMan327
Elsewhere
Member since Feb 2011
5156 posts
Posted on 5/30/23 at 3:13 pm to
quote:

You can’t really over season crawfish outside of salt. Add more garlic and citrus. Add more salt free seasonings



Yup, this is why Zats basic brand is the worst one out. Has more salt content then all the others and thus forth less actual seasonings
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