Crayfish Image Used Under Creative Commons License From sweden.se
Citizens, it’s a chilly November post-election here in the U.S., but let us instead remember warm Summer festivities after all the angst of the presidential election! I post the following recipe in honor of my many Swedish friends, especially Anders, Veronica and Erik! 😀
As noted by John Duxbury:
“August kräftskivor (crayfish parties) are one of the highlights of the Swedish calendar and appeal to people of all ages. The parties have been held in Sweden since the 1800s, but in the 1900s a plague almost completely wiped out the crayfish population. As a result Swedish crayfish are now rare and very expensive, so most Swedes pop down to their local supermarket and pick up a few boxes of imported ready-cooked frozen crayfish. If you are lucky enough to be able to cook fresh crayfish, this is how you do it.
Side dishes vary, but common items include white bread or crispbread, butter, aged cheese, shrimp, aïoli, and Västerbottenost cheese pie. Plus aquavit and snaps, of course.”
Swedes would probably allow about 0.5 kg (1 lb) of crayfish (aka crawfish) per person, and I would recommend the same for those with hearty appetites, 12 ounces per person otherwise. I’ve substituted star anise for the traditional anise seeds, as I prefer a milder flavor in my boil. The aïoli recipe is my own and the Västerbottensost Cheese Pie is traditional.
Feast, my Citizens, with good friends and family – it is truly what life is all about! 😀
2 kg (4 1/2 lb) live crayfish 1 large bunch of dill including crowns (flower heads) (strongly preferred) – If you can’t find dill crowns, use large sprigs of dill instead 1 onion, finely chopped 330ml (12 fl oz) dark beer, porter or stout 2 star anise 3liters (5 pints) water 100g (7 tbsp) salt 2 tsp sugar
For the Västerbottensost Cheese Pie:
Pie pastry:
125g butter 300ml wheat flour 1 tbsp water
Filling:
150g grated Västerbottensost cheese (TFD note – try Parmesan if you can’t find this rare cheese) 3 eggs 200ml whipped cream 1 pinch black pepper
For the aïoli:
1cup mayonnaise 3 tablespoons crème fraîche 2 tablespoons finely-grated lemon zest 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 garlic clove, microplaned or crushed in a press 2 tsp. minced tarragon 2 tsp. minced parsley 2 tsp. minced chervil
Instructions
1. Divide the crayfish between four large plastic freezer bags, putting about 0.5k (1 lb) in each bag. Seal and pop the bags in the freezer for 2 hours to put the crayfish to sleep.
2. Set aside some of the best looking dill crowns to use as a garnish. Put the rest in a large bucket, large enough to take all the crayfish, and add the chopped onion, beer and star anise.
3. Put the water, salt and sugar in a large pan and bring to the boil.
4. Remove a bag of crayfish (0.5 kg/1 lb) from the freezer and immediately drop the crayfish into the boiling water. Cover the pan, return to the boil and cook for about 8 minutes, until the crayfish turn a bright orange/red color. Remove the crayfish from the water with a slotted spoon and place in the bucket with the dill crowns and beer.
5. Repeat step 4 with the remaining crayfish until they are all cooked.
6. When you have finished cooking the crayfish, carefully pour the hot cooking liquid into the bucket and allow to cool.
7. When cold, transfer the crayfish, dill crowns and all the marinating liquid to containers to fit in your fridge or somewhere cold. Leave the crayfish in the fridge overnight.
8. When you are ready to serve the crayfish, remove them from the marinade, drain and stack them on serving plates. Garnish with the reserved dill crowns.
9. Combine all aïoli ingredients and serve with crayfish and accompaniments.
Cheese Pie Method:
Preheat the oven to 225°C. Mix the butter and flour in a food processor to a crumbly texture. Add the water and mix into a smooth dough. Press the pie dough into a pie dish (24 cm in diameter). Prick the bottom of the shell and place in the oven for about 10 minutes.
Whisk the eggs and cream, add the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the cheese filling into the pie shell and bake for about 20 minutes until the pie has set. Allow to cool.
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The Cray fish with dill!
Take off the dill. Cajun crayfish is better.