Add onions, garlic, tomato paste, and tomatoes. Remove meat from bones. This includes other species of turtle! Males have a prominent keel protruding from their dark green shells. Painted turtles are frequent baskets. These include Green Sea turtles, Hawksbill Sea turtles, Leatherback and Loggerhead sea turtles, and Kemps Ridley sea turtles. Frequently referred to as the Common Mud Turtle, these turtles have a highly domed carapace with no ridges or patterns. Justin's programs on CBS, as well as his PBS show Louisiana Cookin . Their flesh and fat are green because of their diet, and that is where their name comes from. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract and baking soda. Southern Painted turtles are mainly seen in slow-moving waters as well as the floodplains surrounding Louisianas main rivers. These turtles eat conch, whelk, crustaceans, and horseshoe crabs. Gopher tortoises dig burrows that other animals use once it has abandoned them. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add 8 ounces chocolate and heat to melt, about 1 minute on high power. Add a little more oil if necessary and lightly saut the onion, celery and bell pepper. The Gopher Tortoise is the only native species of tortoise found in Louisiana, and it is a threatened species. The Mississippi Diamond-backed Terrapin is an aquatic species favoring coastal counties of Louisiana. Season turtle meat with salt and pepper. Alligator Meat 1 lb $22.99. hehehehehe. Razor-backed Musk turtles are mainly an aquatic turtle species common across much of Louisiana. Drain and set aside. State law prohibits the trade of box turtles, and of the creatures' eggs or parts and forbids people from taking wild box . 12 Different Types of Turtles in California. There are some restaurants in Louisiana that still serve turtle dishes. The plastron on these turtles is very minimal, usually white, and cross shaped. Let cook on a low/med heat until it is mixed well (approx 10 minutes) and then add water to continue the gravy. Males have very long claws and longer tails than females. In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepot over high heat, melt the butter and brown the turtle pieces, about 10 to 12 minutes. These turtles are swift not only in the water but on land too. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic, and saut until wilted in the brownings. We also looked at 5 species of sea turtles that visit the coastlines of Louisiana. Add the garlic, tomatoes, okra, roux and Cajun seasoning. They dont eat as much protein as other species in the wild, but still mainly eat mollusks, aquatic larvae, and plants. []. Common Snappers are nocturnal omnivores, mainly eating fish and other aquatic prey. They are brown to grey and very flat. About; Locations. Remove from heat, discard herb bundle and bay leaves. They have a very long neck, and strong, long limbs. Their skin feel like sandpaper, and they have long, tapered beaks. They turn aggressive to anyone who approaches them and will hiss or bite if people get too close. Spiny Softshells have a pancake-like shell with dark circles. There have been reports of several softshell turtles ganging together to take down waterfowl. Turtle is cooked lots of ways: its smothered; its pot fried; its stewed; and probably best of all they make sauce piquant with it. They use their long necks to hunt and catch swift moving prey. The Pearl River Map turtle is a rare subspecies of Map turtle, seen only in Louisiana and Mississippi. Return first batch of meat to pot along with onion, celery, and bell pepper; cook until vegetables soften, about 10 minutes. There is also 1 species of tortoise native to Louisiana which is the Gopher tortoise. Check out our Gopher Tortoise page for more information. Weve examined groups like Map turtles to Softshell turtles, and Mud turtles to Box turtles. Though not very reliable, the Northern Map tends to get bigger than many other Map turtle species. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. The most common color is brown, but they can be olive or black. Three Toed Box turtles sometimes mate with other Box turtle species when they meet, often creating hybrids. Common Snappers are smaller than Alligator snappers, but still large, sometimes reaching up to 20 inches long and weighing 40 pounds on average. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. Two subspecies are found in Louisiana; the Gulf Coast Smooth Softshell (Apalone Mutica Calvata) can be found in the north east. He is an active writer, book author and outdoorsman. Another pancake turtle, the Spiny Softshell sometimes has dark circles or spots on the flat, brown or grey, floppy carapace. A subspecies of the Loggerhead Musk turtle, Stripe-necked Musk turtles are small, quick aquatic turtles found in counties of Louisiana that border Mississippi. This species is considered vulnerable and are also a federally threatened species in Louisiana. Turtles Mites How To Identify And Treat Them. Boudin Stuffed Pork Chops with Creole Mustard and Steen's Cane Syrup Glaze. They also have relatively strong claws and long tails that sport saw-toothed ridges. The brown, muscular head may have either yellow stripes or round spots. They also consume underwater vegetation. Add cayenne, celery salt, bay leaves, and remaining teaspoon salt and teaspoon pepper. These turtles are often described as the most beautiful of all the sea turtles. They also need plenty of aquatic vegetation as they are mostly herbivorous. The carapace is similar to other map turtles with swirls and markings, as well as the centerline keel and saw-backed scutes at the rear. Add the V-8 Juice, cover and simmer for 1 hour. Cook slowly for 20 to 30 minutes. These turtles prefer to live in slow moving waters and floodplains along larger rivers. Divide filling between centers of 9 pastry rectangles. In a 5-quart saucepan, melt the remaining butter. Alligator snapping turtles most frequently feed on fish, molluscs and other turtles. Sept. 22, 2011 -- intro:If Cooter Pie, Baked Possum and Corn Poe sounds like good eatin' to you, then you best check out this cookbook. Alligator Snapping turtles are carnivores, and will essentially eat anything they can catch. They will also eat plants. Throw in some spices, extra pepper, and smoky sausage, and you'll have such a hearty and colorful dinner. They are mainly found in the southwest of Louisiana, but can be seen occasionally in other areas. These beautiful turtles are named for their markings. 0 seconds of 2 minutes, 20 secondsVolume 0% 00:25 02:20 Though they dont touch carrion in advanced decay. This classic Creole soup has been on New Orleans menus for centuries and has only gotten better with age. They also occasionally eat aquatic plants. Louisiana Cookin' - Recipes, New Orleans Cuisine. Females will lay 3 to 5 nests in a season, then take a year or two off before nesting again. Ornate Box turtles roam freely across the land but will return every year to their original nesting site. snapper turtle, cleaned, rinsed and medium diced, all-purpose flour, butter, red wine, chopped celery, chopped onion, chopped carrot, minced garlic, beef stock, water . Quick list of the native turtles of Louisiana: Alligator Snapping Turtle Macroclemys temminckii Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina serpentina Common Musk Turtle (Stinkpot) Sternotherus odoratus Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus Gulf Coast Box Turtle Terrapene carolina major Gulf Coast Smooth Softshell Apalone mutica calvata Kemps Ridley Sea turtles eat crustaceans and crabs but may feed on discarded crabs and bycatch. Bring the flavors of Louisiana's cuisine to your table with some of our finest recipes. With that being said, there are some Three Toed Box turtles that have to be different and sport four toes on their hind legs. The shell also has a wrinkled appearance, and the plastron (lower part of the shell) is yellowish or tan. When mud and algae are not covering their shells you may see olive green or dark brown coloration. An exhaustive list of all the turtles you may find in and around Louisiana. Stir into pot. I ate turtle this weekend and it was awesome. As their name suggests, they have three toes on their hind legs. This sauce piquant recipe is unique to Des Allemands, where many sauce piquants, no matter what the main ingredient is, are made with V-8 Juice and stuffed green olives. Louisiana Recipes. Brown turtle meat on medium/high. You Might Also Like. Like many Painted turtles, their plastrons are yellowish in color. These turtles prefer clear, shallow waters with soft or sandy bottoms. The Mississippi Map turtle is a subspecies of False Map turtle native to Louisiana. Chances are youve seen Painted Turtles before because they are the most widespread turtle species in North America. They will eat fungi, berries, grasses, insects, worms, spiders, slugs, and snails, as well as some carrion. Razor-backed Musk turtles are carnivorous and feed mainly on aquatic invertebrates, such as shellfish, crustaceans, fish, and mollusks. The carapace (upper shell) is olive, dark brown, or black with yellow to reddish ornate markings that resemble paint runs. As with many other turtles, Ouachita Map turtles are omnivores. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Females leave the water to lay eggs but thats about it. Sabine Map turtles are another subspecies of Map turtles only found in small areas. Have a cast iron pot on med/high heat with a little oil and begin to brown. Add turtle and season the meat generously with LA Crawfish's Creole Seasoning. Their scutes are ridged and patterned with concentric rings, giving the carapace a sculpted appearance. Posted on Published: February 9, 2021- Last updated: November 14, 2021. From fish, crayfish, mollusks, insects, tadpoles, and an abundance of vegetation. 5 Traditional New Orleans Soups for Mardi Gras. Smooth Softshell turtles are found in some northern areas of Louisiana. Allow to cool until meat can be handled. Then simmer for 2-2 1/2 hours (or until turtle is tender). These turtles tend to inhabit the Sabine river and tributaries along the Louisiana and Texas border. Click herefor crawfish and seafood distributors. Render the turtle meat (cook until brown) at a medium to high heat. The upper half of this turtles head is covered in white, and the rest of the skin is green with white stripes. Copyright 1999 - 2023 Louisiana Sportsman, Inc. All rights reserved. Add the stock and simmer for 30 minutes. The plastron is lighter colored than the upper shell and has one back-end hinge. To roux add onions both yellow and green, celery, bell pepper (holy trinity) and garlic. Lay Rolos on the prepared baking sheets 2-inches apart. As their name implies, they have three claws on their hindlegs rather than four. An outstanding version of the old-fashioned turtle soup, with flavors of lemon, sherry, pepper, and turtle balancing each other out into a superb whole. Heat the pot. Whenever you see items made of tortoiseshell, it most likely came from a Hawksbill Sea turtle. Chop meat into 1" - 2" pieces. Ouachita Map turtles can be distinguished from other Map turtles by the large yellow spots on the sides of their heads. Gopher tortoises are herbivores. Marshlands, swamps, and ponds are their favorite, but when these arent available they will withstand smaller rivers and streams. Slowly pour the water into the batter, mixing well and being careful of splashing. In fact, it was considered a subspecies of the Ouachita Map Turtle until very recently! As long as you follow proper rules you can hunt turtles in Louisiana. All you need is the essential ingredients for any soup (onions, stock, garlic and a few others) and a large pot and you're good to go! The Eastern River Cooter is a colorful medium to large turtle. The same coloration continues on their heads and limbs. Their heads are dark with pointed snouts. Ingredients 4 tablespoons butter, divided 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 2 pounds turtle meat, patted dry and cut into -inch cubes, divided 1 teaspoon salt, divided 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided 2 red onions, chopped 3 stalks celery, chopped 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon tomato paste Three-toed Box turtles have high domed carapaces which are usually brown or olive in color. Stir to blend. They prefer still, to very slow moving, shallow waters such as swamps, bogs, and small ponds. Their head and skin are usually brown, with prominent yellowish stripe markings running along the head and neck. Remove from heat and serve. In Louisiana they are mainly confined to a couple of eastern counties near the Pearl River. The Best Turtle Food for a Healthy Pet. The main habitats for Three-toed Box turtles are woodlands and other grassland areas such as meadows. Once done, the soup is served in individual bowls, often with sherry, lemon wedges, or crusty bread on the side. Red-eared Sliders prefer warm, slow-moving waters. They can be aggressive and will often hiss and bite. Remove from pot and set aside. See our Ornate Box Turtle article for more. They are semi-aquatic and often move around on land. They also have nubs and fleshy spikes on their shells. Hawksbill turtle shells are marbled with brown, green, yellow, and black colors.