Louisiana crawfish from Breaux Bridge
(Staff Photo) |
We've been catching crawfish all our life, and love the Louisiana tradition of a long, leisurely crawfish boil in spring! Some folks call 'em crayfish, crawdads, or mudbugs, but here in Louisiana they are simply CRAWFISH, whether they are basin crawfish, spillway crawfish, or pond crawfish.
Crawfish are freshwater crustaceans. Louisiana has more than 30 different species of crawfish, but only two species are commercially important to the industry: the red swamp crawfish and the white river crawfish.
Crawfish are healthy food. They are an excellent source of high-quality protein, low in calories, fat and saturated fat, and a good source of vitamins.
With the advent of the Internet, and shippers such as FedEx, crawfish lovers outside of Louisiana can enjoy fresh, Louisiana crawfish delivered to their door at home, or their nearest airport!
Visit our new website www.WeLoveCrawfish.com for recipes, photos, boiling ideas, ordering and more!
Louisiana is known for its Cajun and Creole culture, and its legendary Cajun cooking and crawfish.
Excellent Cajun cooking abounds in all parts of Louisiana, whether your tastes tend to seafood gumbo, Boudin, Andouille sausage, or maybe even fried alligator!
Crawfish is a key ingredient in many Louisiana dishes and meals ... some of our favorites are Crawfish Etouffee, Crawfish Bisque, Crawfish Pie, Fried Crawfish, Crawfish Jambalaya, and of course boiled crawfish.
Crawfish season varies from one year to the next, based on how cold (or mild) the weather was during the Louisiana winter. It also depends on the amount of rain, and the water levels in the swamps and bayous. In some years, such as 2011, high water levels in the Mississippi River, Red River and Atchafalaya River impact the timing, and overall production, of the season.
Generally, the crawfish season in Louisiana runs from January through July for crawfish caught in the wild. Crawfish from farms are available over a longer period of the year.
In the heart of Cajun Country, just east of Lafayette on I-10, is the community of Breaux Bridge, the Crawfish Capital of the World, close to Henderson, the gateway to the great Atchafalaya Swamp. Breaux Bridge is also the home of the annual Crawfish Festival scheduled each May.
Of course the swamp is full of more than just crawfish! Alligators are plentiful in Louisiana, and a harvest season is monitored by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries each year.
The story of alligator hunting in Louisiana is told in the hit TV series "Swamp People" on the History Channel.
Yes, we DO love crawfish! So much so that we have launched an entire website dedicated to crawfish ... buying, boiling, festivals, recipes, photos and more.
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