Yabbies (small freshwater crayfish) are a real delicacy – they’re not something I can get my hands on in quantities large enough to be frivolous with in the kitchen. The yabbies in my dam are a real challenge to trap. I know they’re there, but they simply refuse to cooperate by walking into the traps for me. Maybe they know I like eating them – word gets around fast out here. Thankfully, I have friends with better behaved crustaceans. And when a bucket of snapping yabbies gets dumped in my kitchen I go for this recipe. It’s a bit of a mash-up of ideas, really, and it may not look the most beautiful, but it tastes great!
There are two parts to this dish: the chowder and the fried dumplings. I’ll admit that there’s a bit of work to it, but the results are worth it, especially if you love freshwater crustaceans. If you can get your hands on about 30–40 yabbies, you’ll be able to feed a few adults. If you’re not so lucky out on the ponds, then make a smaller batch and serve it as an entrée.