Crawfish Salad

8 servings Prep: 20 m Cook: 10 m Total: 30 m Beginner
5.0/5 (1)
Crawfish Salad
A great fresh tasting crawfish salad with macaroni, celery, bell pepper, and onion - serve hot or cold as a main dish or appetizer. This Louisiana classic is perfect for using leftover boiled crawfish.

Ingredients

8 servings
  • 1 lb crawfish
  • 1 small package of macaroni
  • 2 tbsp pickled relish
  • 1 small jar of chopped pimentos
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1 cup chopped bell pepper
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 to 2 tbsp mustard
  • 1-4 tbsp mayonnaise

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Cook macaroni according to pasta box instructions and drain. Let cool slightly.
  2. Finely chop crawfish tails and mix with the cooked macaroni.
  3. Add the chopped celery, bell pepper, onion, pickled relish, pimentos, and mustard. Mix well.
  4. Start with 1-2 tablespoons of mayonnaise and add additional amounts until you have the desired consistency.
  5. Chill in the refrigerator in a covered dish for at least 1 hour. Chilling imparts a nice flavor.
  6. Serve with crackers as an appetizer or as a main dish salad.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Why is my crawfish salad watery?

A: Make sure your cooked macaroni is well-drained and cooled before mixing. If using frozen crawfish tails, thaw them completely and drain excess liquid. Start with less mayonnaise and add more as needed.

Q: Can I make this ahead?

A: Absolutely! This salad actually gets better after chilling for a few hours or overnight as the flavors meld together. Just wait to add the final mayonnaise adjustment until closer to serving time.

Tips and Techniques

For the best texture, chop the crawfish tails finely but not into a paste - you want some texture. Taste before adding all the mayonnaise since the amount needed varies based on how much moisture is in your crawfish and macaroni.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • crawfish: cooked shrimp, chopped
  • macaroni: small shell pasta or rotini
  • pickled relish: diced dill pickles

Equipment Needed

  • Large pot for boiling pasta
  • Colander for draining
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Knife and cutting board

Historical Context

Crawfish salad became popular in South Louisiana as a way to extend expensive crawfish tails, especially after boils when you’d have leftover peeled tails. It’s a potluck favorite and shows up at just about every Cajun gathering during crawfish season.