Yield: 6 servings
4 tb Butter, unsalted
2 lb Crayfish; cleaned, shelled
1 Onions; chopped
fine
2 Garlic cloves; chopped
1 Fennel sprig; (optional)
1 sm Pepper, hot; left whole
4 c Water
1 c Milk, coconut
2 Egg yolks
Salt;
to taste
Heat butter in heavy saucepan and add crayfish,
onion and garlic. Saute
over medium heat until the crayfish have changed color, about
5 minutes.
Add the fennel, hot pepper and water. Cover and cook at a gentle
simmer
for 30 minutes. Remove and discard the fennel and the hot pepper.
Remove
the crayfish and pound in a mortar and push through a fine sieve
or reduce
to a puree in an electric blender with a little of the stock.
Return the pureed crayfish to the saucepan, add
the coconut milk and
heat through. Beat the eggs yolks with a little of the soup
and stir into
the saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until
the soup is
lightly thickened.
The crayfish shells may be simmered the water first
to make a more
flavorful stock instead of using plain water.