Recipe: Sweet Daddy D’s Jazz Fest Crawfish Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of fettuccine or rotini pasta
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 6 tablespoons of butter
• 1 medium-sized yellow onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon of Creole spice, plus extra for crawfish
• 1/2 teaspoon of optional cayenne
• 1/2 cup of White Dry Wine
• 2 cups of Heavy Cream
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
• 2 pounds of Louisiana crawfish tails
• 1 bunch of green onions, shredded
• 1/2 cup of chopped parsley
• 1 cup of sliced and grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta until it’s al dente according to the package instructions. Before draining, reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta cooking water. Return the drained pasta to the pot and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil mixed with the reserved pasta water. Cover to keep warm.
2. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, melt the butter until it foams.
3. Add the chopped yellow onions and cook until they become soft, around 8 minutes.
4. Stir in the chopped garlic and sauté for an additional 2 minutes, until fragrant.
5. Combine the Creole spice with the crawfish tails in a bowl and mix well. Set aside.
6. Add cayenne (if using) and Creole spice to the sautéed onions and garlic. Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
7. Pour in the White Dry Wine, increase the heat to a strong boil, and allow the wine to reduce until almost evaporated.
8. Stir in the heavy cream and fresh lemon juice, ensuring everything is well combined.
9. Simmer the mixture on low heat for a few minutes until it starts to thicken slightly.
10. Gradually add the seasoned crawfish tails to the pan, ensuring they’re well coated. Heat the crawfish tails for about 3 minutes until heated through.
11. Stir in the shredded green onions and chopped parsley, mixing well. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
12. Slowly incorporate the cooked pasta into the sauce, stirring to evenly distribute the crawfish.
13. Add about 1/2 cup of sliced and grated Parmesan cheese, reserving some for garnish.
14. Continue stirring until the pasta is well coated with the creamy crawfish sauce.
15. Serve the Jazz Fest Crawfish Pasta in individual plates or bowls, garnishing with additional sliced Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy Sweet Daddy D’s flavorful and vibrant Jazz Fest Crawfish Pasta that captures the essence of New Orleans cuisine!

Note: Be sure to adjust the level of cayenne to your preference for spiciness. The dish should be creamy and well-coated; adjust the amount of cheese as desired.