First Signal Crayfish Catch in Summer 2013

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The crayfish season has just started! My friend and I went to the lake for searching those delicious, little bastards 😀 I also got a nice video footage from the free-diving trip, since I have borrowed a digital video recorder, with a water proof case, from my other friend. The camera is the Contour HD 1080P. I wanted to test the camera right away before I leave to my holiday trip in Norway (I mentioned about it here). In addition to crayfish, we saw three oddly tame pikes in the lake. I even managed to poke one’s tail with my finger 😀 Anyway, here are the video compilation and images from the trip 🙂 Notice: an extremely delicious crayfish recipe provided! I made it during the previous crayfish season.

I with my snorkeling mask and borrowed Contour HD 1080P digital video recorder. MinÀ sukellusmaskin ja digitaalisen videokameran kanssa.

Here is my face and the camera my friend borrowed to me. Afterwards I feel pretty stupid, because in the camera case there was already a holder for the mask, but I didn’t notice it and I used a duck tape for attaching the camera. 😀

 

 

Cooking signal crayfish with cashew nuts, dill, lemon juice, beer, onion, tomato purée, butter and seasons. TÀplÀrapujen kokkausta cashew-pÀhkinöiden, tillin, sitruunamehun, kaljan, sipulin, tomaattipyreen, voin ja mausteiden kanssa.

Here is the catch, crawling on the kitchen table. Stay still, while I image you!!!

Cooking signal crayfish with cashew nuts, dill, lemon juice, beer, onion, tomato purée, butter and seasons. TÀplÀrapujen kokkausta cashew-pÀhkinöiden, tillin, sitruunamehun, kaljan, sipulin, tomaattipyreen, voin ja mausteiden kanssa.

“I am the King of the Crayfish Kingdom. Thou shall fear my mighty claws!”

Cooking signal crayfish with cashew nuts, dill, lemon juice, beer, onion, tomato purée, butter and seasons. TÀplÀrapujen kokkausta cashew-pÀhkinöiden, tillin, sitruunamehun, kaljan, sipulin, tomaattipyreen, voin ja mausteiden kanssa.

The recipe starts here. The most efficient way to kill a crayfish, with its ladder like nervous system, is to give it a comprehensive heat shock. Thus, take the biggest pot you have, fill it with water, dill and salt and make it boil angrily.

Cooking signal crayfish with cashew nuts, dill, lemon juice, beer, onion, tomato purée, butter and seasons. TÀplÀrapujen kokkausta cashew-pÀhkinöiden, tillin, sitruunamehun, kaljan, sipulin, tomaattipyreen, voin ja mausteiden kanssa.

When the water is boiling vigorously, start gently brushing the crayfish. Start from the biggest ones since they need more time to be cooked. Finally, rinse the crayfish with pure water and put them in the pot.

Cooking signal crayfish with cashew nuts, dill, lemon juice, beer, onion, tomato purée, butter and seasons. TÀplÀrapujen kokkausta cashew-pÀhkinöiden, tillin, sitruunamehun, kaljan, sipulin, tomaattipyreen, voin ja mausteiden kanssa.

For avoiding unnecessary pain, take care that the water boils always vigorously before dipping the crayfish in it. Because of the destructive force of the heat, pigment molecules are quickly denatured and the crayfish turns rapidly red.

Cooking signal crayfish with cashew nuts, dill, lemon juice, beer, onion, tomato purée, butter and seasons. TÀplÀrapujen kokkausta cashew-pÀhkinöiden, tillin, sitruunamehun, kaljan, sipulin, tomaattipyreen, voin ja mausteiden kanssa.

After adding the last crayfish, boil them about 10-15 minutes. As it can be seen from the image, the main armor of the crayfish is raised a little bit and white tissue can be seen under it. This is a good mark for ending the boiling. Look for these signs on the biggest crayfish. Usually in Nordic countries crayfish are eaten at this point, after they are put back into the cooking stock with a new bunch of dill and let them to cool down. My recipe goes a little bit further. 🙂

Cooking signal crayfish with cashew nuts, dill, lemon juice, beer, onion, tomato purée, butter and seasons. TÀplÀrapujen kokkausta cashew-pÀhkinöiden, tillin, sitruunamehun, kaljan, sipulin, tomaattipyreen, voin ja mausteiden kanssa.

Onions and ripped dills are sautéed in a hot pan with butter. Black and white peppers with salt are also added.

Cooking signal crayfish with cashew nuts, dill, lemon juice, beer, onion, tomato purée, butter and seasons. TÀplÀrapujen kokkausta cashew-pÀhkinöiden, tillin, sitruunamehun, kaljan, sipulin, tomaattipyreen, voin ja mausteiden kanssa.

Put the crayfish on the hot pan and add honey, cashew nuts, lemon juice, tomato purée and white wine (or beer). Mix the whole thing. Simmer with lower temperature so long that the stock boils down and becomes a little bit stiffer. Actually, it is easier first to add the other ingredients and after the mixing add the crayfish.

Cooking signal crayfish with cashew nuts, dill, lemon juice, beer, onion, tomato purée, butter and seasons. TÀplÀrapujen kokkausta cashew-pÀhkinöiden, tillin, sitruunamehun, kaljan, sipulin, tomaattipyreen, voin ja mausteiden kanssa.

Cooking signal crayfish with cashew nuts, dill, lemon juice, beer, onion, tomato purée, butter and seasons. TÀplÀrapujen kokkausta cashew-pÀhkinöiden, tillin, sitruunamehun, kaljan, sipulin, tomaattipyreen, voin ja mausteiden kanssa.

Enjoy with lemon slices, good drinks and with good company. White bread is also a good choice, as one can stack the meat from the opened crayfish on the bread.

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