Today is Tandy Tuesday, and it is also nearing the start of the new crayfish season. I have given a few crayfish away as gifts to make sure we get through the pile left over from last season. However, rumour has it that we may only be able to catch one crayfish per day, and if that is the case we will not be going out this summer. This weeks’ recipe is for Crayfish Pasta With Brandy.

Crayfish Pasta with Brandy
Ingredients
- 2 crayfish tails, steamed and cut into bite size pieces
- 15 mls olive oil
- 1 leek, finely sliced
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 whole chilli
- 1 lemon, zest only
- 15 mls Brandy
- 30 mls Mascarpone cheese
- 50 g Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 handful fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped, for garnishing
Method
- start by getting your pasta water on the go, and steaming your crayfish
- heat the oil in a pan and add the leeks
- cook on a gentle heat until the leeks are soft and then add the garlic and the chilli
- add the crayfish and as soon as the crayfish is hot add the lemon zest
- remove the chilli
- heat the Brandy and then flambé into the crayfish
- add the marscapone and the parmesan
- toss through the pasta
- serve with the parsley
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
It might sound very extravagant that I would use crayfish (or lobster) in a pasta dish. For many people this is an expensive ingredient. But for us, it is relatively cheap. Only because we are very lucky to be able to go out on the sea to catch crayfish at very little cost to us. A friend of ours has his own boat (and fishing company). And he loves being on the open water. He is prepared to bear all the expenses involved, such as the fuel, in order to have assistance while out fishing. And the company and conversation are an added bonus. At first I would go out with them, but recently I have let it be a boys days out.
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Quite a posh dish.
(I’m not having much luck with the pea shoots, wanted to use them for Tuesday Pasta … )
I am going to try again today 🙂
I love this idea, Tandy – what could I use in place of the crayfish tails (no fishermen here!)? xxx
any firm white fish will do 🙂