Crawfish Bisque

Step 1

For the stuffed heads: Run tails, seasoning veggies, and herbs through a food processor. Mix all ingredients in a very large bowl, reserving the last can of bread crumbs to add as needed until mixture has the proper consistency -- about 1/2 to 3/4 of the 4th can. Spoon mixture into quart size baggies and nip off one corner. Use like a pastry bag to fill the clean, dry carapace crawfish shells. Bake filled shells on parchment covered cookie sheets at 400F for 12 to 15 minutes. Yield 400-500 stuffed shells, depending on size of the shells. Allow to cool and pack in one gallon freezer bags. Freeze.

Step 2

Bisque Liquor: This is somewhere between a gumbo and a thick gravy, depending on your taste. It must be thin enough to permeate the stuffing without disintegrating it, but thick enough to have a heavy 'mouth feel'. This is a matter of personal preference, but the author likes his to barely coat a wooden spoon. The consistency of a thick tomato soup. Plan on one and one half cups to two cups per dozen stuffed heads.

Step 3

Make a gumbo base, but use only half as much water as you normally would. Dark roux, finely chopped seasoning vegetables (onion, bell pepper, garlic, parsley, celery), bay leaf, Tony's or salt, pepper, cayenne to taste, plus one can Rotel (or crushed) tomatoes per quart of water (do not use stock--water only). When it has simmered for a half hour or so, I like to strain out all the seasonings and tomato bits (except bay leaf), run through a food processor and put it back in. Add stuffed heads straight from the freezer and simmer, uncovered, on low heat for at least two hours, bearing in mind that the longer it slow cooks, the better it gets. Bisque should cover shells. If (by evaporation) it gets thicker than you like, add a little water as needed. Allow 6-8 shells/12 ounces bisque per person or 3-4 dozen shells/half gallon per Cajun.