Crawfish Pizzas

In Louisiana, where crawfish are plentiful and where residents of the Sportsman’s Paradise take pride in finding all manner of culinary uses for the tasty little mudbugs, crawfish pizza won’t raise any eyebrows. Outside the bayou states, however, crawfish may seem like an alien ingredient. But trust me when I tell you that these crawfish pizzas are creamy, cheesy and spicy with savory umami flavor in every bite. The crawfish tails add a rich, slightly sweet, lobster-esque flavor that pairs perfectly with the Cajun spice blend and melted cheese. So if you’re looking to turn heads at your next party, serving these personal-size crawfish pizzas is the answer.

Crawfish Pizza Ingredients

• Green pepper
• Onion
• Green onion
• Garlic
• Butter
• Process cheese (Velveeta)
• Cream cheese
• Mayonnaise
• Worcestershire sauce
• Dried parsley flakes
• Hot pepper sauce
• Cayenne pepper
• Pepper
• Cajun seasoning
• Crawfish tails
• Oil for frying
• Flour tortillas
• Shredded Mexican or cheddar cheese

Directions

Step 1: Make the cheesy sauce

In a large skillet, saute the green pepper, onions and garlic in butter until the vegetables are tender, then reduce the heat to low. Add the process cheese, cream cheese and mayonnaise, cooking and stirring until they’ve melted. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, parsley, hot pepper sauce and seasonings. Continue cooking until the sauce has slightly thickened.

Step 2: Add the crawfish

Add the crawfish, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes until everything is heated through.

Step 3: Prepare the tortillas

Heat the oil in a heavy skillet. Fry each tortilla in the oil for one to two minutes on each side, or until they’re nicely browned. Remove the tortillas from the skillet and let them drain on paper towels.

Step 4: Assemble the pizzas

Spread 1/2 cup of the crawfish mixture onto each tortilla, then sprinkle each with cheese. Place the pizzas on ungreased baking sheets. Bake them at 350ºF for four to five minutes or until the cheese has melted.

How to Store Crawfish Pizza

Wrap any leftover crawfish pizzas individually in storage wrap or place them in airtight containers, then store them in the refrigerator for three to four days. Reheat the pizzas in a 350° oven for five to seven minutes, or until the cheese is gooey and the crust is crisp.

Crawfish Pizza Tips

Will other toppings work on crawfish pizza?

Make these crawfish pizzas your own by adding your favorite pizza toppings, or try them with nontraditional ingredients. Earthy chanterelle or oyster mushrooms are great flavor enhancers on these pizzas, as are smoky andouille sausage, spicy jalapeno slices and sweet roasted corn.

Can I make crawfish pizza on the grill?

You can absolutely grill these pizzas instead of baking them in the oven. Set up your grill for indirect cooking, and place the pizzas directly on the grate or a pizza stone. Cook them for four to five minutes, turning them once halfway through.

Does crawfish pizza work with shrimp?

Yes! For those who are a little less adventurous—or who don’t have easy access to crawfish—you can substitute shrimp for the crawfish. Shrimp are larger and have a firmer texture than crawfish, so choose small or extra-small shrimp for a similar bite-size and similar ratio between the crawfish and other ingredients. From there, follow the recipe as written.