Description
Fresh ingredients are in this delicious, cheesy, creamy sauce surrounding tasty crawfish and fettuccine pasta with spicy jalapeno.
Ingredients
Units
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- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup onions, chopped
- 1/4 cup celery, chopped
- 1/4 cup bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 pound raw, peeled crawfish tails
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup half -and-half
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup (4 ounces) mild cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 oz. cream cheese
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon liquid crab boil, optional
- 8 ounces fettuccine pasta, cooked according to package, do not drain
- some pasta water
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and, if serving as a casserole, spray a casserole dish with oil.
- Melt butter in a large skillet, then add onions, celery, and bell pepper and cook for 10 minutes, adding garlic during the last few minutes.
- Add crawfish and cook for 10 minutes more, stirring often.
- Stir in flour, half-and-half, and chicken broth until well blended.
- Add the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and jalapeno pepper, stirring until cheeses are melted into the sauce.
- Stir in salt, cayenne pepper, and crab boil, if you opt for it, and cook on low heat, simmering for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Boil the pasta while the sauce cooks; do not drain the pasta water.
- Add the pasta by spoonfuls straight from the water into the sauce; do not add the remaining pasta water.
- Stir in parsley and combine well.
- Serve from the pot or pour into a greased casserole dish.
- Top with parmesan cheese (and breadcrumbs if you want an added crunch).
- Bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly and golden on the edges.
- Garnish with more chopped fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
- It's important not to drain the pasta so the dish doesn't dry out.
- Adding the jalapeno with the cheese keeps the pepper intact for a flavorful bite.
- The liquid crab boil gives more heat and flavor, but it is not necessary.
- Substitute 1 pound of peeled and deveined raw shrimp for the crawfish for a Shrimp Fettuccine.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
