Cooking Cajun: Crawfish Cornbread Salad

Cajun Crawfish Cornbread Salad

Real Cajun Food at its finest.

Cajun cuisine originates from the French-speaking Acadian or "Cajun" immigrants deported by the British from Acadia in Canada to the Acadiana region of Louisiana, USA.

It is what could be called a rustic cuisine — locally available ingredients predominate, and preparation is simple.

One 8 oz pkg cornbread muffin mix
One 1 oz envelope ranch-style salad dressing mix
One 8 oz container sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped green onions
Two 16 oz cans pinto beans, drained
Two 15-1/4 oz cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 cups ( 8 oz) shredded Cheddar cheese
12 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
2 lb crawfish, cooked (shrimp can be substituted)

Prepare cornbread mix according to package directions. Cool. Stir together salad dressing mix, sour cream and mayonnaise. Set aside. Combine tomatoes and next three ingredients. Gently toss. Crumble 1/2 cornbread into a three quart trifle bowl or large salad bowl. Top with 1/2 each of beans, tomato mixture, cheese, bacon, corn, crawfish and dressing mixture. Repeat layers. Cover and chill three hours.