They can also stay underwater for a long time. In the wild, the common musk turtle would eat a wide variety of water fish and insects. When hibernating, the Mud turtle will dig into the soft ground and bury itself until spring. We love hearing from our readers. Get our latest hunting and fishing info right in your inbox, PawPaw and De Two AJ's Hit T-Funky 03 01 23, Mardi Gras Mombo-Jr and Paw Paw Hit T-Funky 2 21 23. In his boat, he wore white books, but once on land, he kicked them off, even when it was cold. There they hibernate until the temperatures warm up and they emerge. He hauled up the trap to the clatter of shells, as the turtles in it scuttled over each other. They are mainly found in the southwest of Louisiana, but can be seen occasionally in other areas. Soup Recipes. Visit our Ridley sea turtle page for more information. You may see small Diamondback Terrapins, medium sized Red Eared Sliders, or large Softshell or Snapping turtles in the waters around the state. In a medium saucepan, stir together brown sugar, condensed milk, corn syrup, butter, and salt. Ringed Map turtles are easy to identify among other Map turtles species because of the distinct rings on the carapace. They turn aggressive to anyone who approaches them and will hiss or bite if people get too close. This is the late (1928-2008) Delores Loupes recipe. They are found across Louisiana but their numbers are decreasing. Add flour and cook 2 minutes. The Common Musk Turtle, also known as the Stinkpot Turtle, is a small aquatic turtle that can be a popular choice as a pet because of its size. As their name suggests, rivers are their preferred habitat, but they can sometimes be found in ponds, lakes, and streams. Three-toed Box turtles are omnivores will eat fish and invertebrates as well as plants. Head to our Green Sea turtles page for more information. They can inhabit tidal marshes, and estuaries but they rarely spend time in full-strength saltwater. Ringed Map turtles are mainly confined to a couple of eastern counties near the Pearl River along the same areas as the Pearl River Map turtle. It is almost identical in looks and behavior but has a much smaller range. Otherwise, they look very similar with the smooth carapace, and stripes along their extremities. Unfortunately for them, this beauty makes them a target for illegal poachers. Cook until the vegetables are transparent. Like many Painted turtles, their plastrons are yellowish in color. Remove the cake from the oven and allow the cake to cool to room temperature, then poke holes all over. I have a great turtle soup recipe but how much meat do you have so I can convert it for you. Smooth Softshell turtles are found mainly in northern areas of Louisiana. They also occasionally eat aquatic plants. Eastern Spiny Softshells (Apalone Spinifera Spinifera) inhabit northern counties, while the Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell (Apalone Spinifera Aspera) is found in the southeast. Brown really good and once it is really brown and sticking to the bottom, throw in onions and a lot of them. They usually inhabit ponds and rivers as well as wetlands. Add celery, green onions, peppers, wine and seasoning. Ornate Box Turtles are classified as threatened in Louisiana, and near threatened elsewhere. Quick . They will eat fungi, berries, grasses, insects, worms, spiders, slugs, and snails, as well as some carrion. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add 8 ounces chocolate and heat to melt, about 1 minute on high power. Their shells have jagged, saw-toothed edges. The Kitchen Queens prepare Creole Louisiana Snapping Turtle . Frequently referred to as the Common Mud Turtle, these turtles have a highly domed carapace with no ridges or patterns. Eastern Mud turtles are omnivorous, though they eat meat more than vegetation. Their flesh and fat are green because of their diet, and that is where their name comes from. They carry federal protection, so its illegal to take, harm, or possess these tortoises without a special permit. New Orleans food delivered to your door. Like other Painted turtles subspecies, the Southern variety likes a well rounded diet. When there isnt sufficient moisture to keep these turtles hydrated, they will dig a burrow to reach humid soil. They also need plenty of aquatic vegetation as they are mostly herbivorous. juice, clam juice, and Worcestershire sauce; simmer 10 minutes. Add about 1/4 cup of water and scratch the bottom of the pot to get all the browning that is stuck off the bottom of the pot (do this while turtle is still in the pot). Add onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic and cook until tender. Ornate Box turtles are mainly found in Louisianas southwestern areas, but there are a few scattered populations elsewhere in the state. As the turtle ages, this pattern gets fainter. office 504.208.9959,New Orleans, Louisiana These little turtles have shells that range from brown to tan and sport dark spots. Cover bowl with moistened towel and place in refrigerator overnight. Three subspecies of Spiny Softshell are native to Louisiana. Their heads are usually a darker color, with yellow band markings and red patches just behind their eyes. 50+ Quick & Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes. packages of frozen chefs seasonings, 1 7-oz. Pour off grease except for 3 or 4 tablespoons. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about three hours. Large bodies of water such as rivers and lakes with abundant basking spots are where you will find these turtles. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches 240F, about 5 minutes. Add hot sauce. #8. Unfortunately, they still are nowhere near the numbers they should be. Turtle soup is considered one of the great classical Creole dishes of yore in New Orleans. Low & Slow Oven Baked Ribs - Super Simple! Continue to cook on a med/low - med heat (not boiling) until turtle is tender. One of the main visual differences between Southern Painted turtles and the previously mentioned Eastern is the red stripe that runs through the middle of the carapace on the former. While some people dont mind this, most predators find they cant stomach the stink and find more pleasing things to eat. Add onions, garlic, tomato paste, and tomatoes. 12 Different Types of Turtles in California. Rinse turtle pieces in cold water. These turtles prefer deep ocean waters where they can feast on their favorite food, lions mane jellyfish. Painted turtles are omnivorous and mainly eat mollusks, frogs, and underwater invertebrates. Return heat to medium-high, add sherry, and scrape bottom of pot to loosen any browned bits. Serves 10 to 12 Ingredients: Method: In a heavy soup pot over medium-high heat warm the oil. See for yourself. An exhaustive list of all the turtles you may find in and around Louisiana. These turtles are very popular among turtle owners because they are so strikingly beautiful. The Red Eared Slider is one of the most popular species of pet turtle on the market and has been for decades. Their shells can vary from black and brown to gray or olive. These beautiful little turtles have prominent, black-tipped ridges running down the spine of their brown to olive shells. The Chicken Turtle doesnt sport feathers, cluck, or eat chickens, instead, they get their name because reportedly they taste like the egg-laying yard bird. The Three Toed Box turtle is the least decorated of North American Box turtles. Sabine Map turtles are a subspecies of Map turtle that inhabit western counties of Louisiana. The smallest of all the sea turtles and the most critically endangered, the Kemps Ridley Sea turtle grows just over 2 feet long. hehehehehe. Here is our comprehensive guide to the native turtles in Louisiana. The species gets its name from the number of toes on its hind feet . Louisiana is home to a diverse range of interesting species! Sometimes females can grow 2 to 3 times as large as full-grown males of the same species. So watch out for falling turtles when visiting the Louisiana bayous. They can climb though and will use the vegetation to get to the surface for air, and even climb trees. Add garlic and tomato paste, and cook 2 minutes. Cooker Recipes. In another glass bowl, add the all-purpose flour, corn starch, and season with a little more Cajun seasoning. He had . THE BEST DEEP FRIED TURTLE NUGGETS1-1/2 cupshomemade Bisquick1/2 tsphomemade garlic powder1/2 tsphomemade onion powderturtle meat from one turtleSoak turtle meat in cold salt water 2+ hours. Brown in cooking oil. They prefer moving water such as rivers. All rights reserved. Their brown or grey skin is usually covered in black dots, while the carapace has black streaks. Painted turtles will eat duckweed, water hyacinth, lily, and algae, as well as snails, fish, tadpoles, and insects. It's typically made with turtle meat, a roux of butter and dark flour, sherry, tomatoes, stock, diced hard-boiled eggs, lemon juice, and a variety of herbs and spices such as parsley, paprika, cumin, coriander, and allspice. Similar to the Eastern Box Turtle, these colorful turtles have distinctive patterning on their shells, sporting a series of yellow to orange stripes. Try our $10 Trial Subscription (3 issues). Cook until the seasonings are soft, about 20 minutes. Great for making homemade Louisiana style turtle soup, a Commander's Palace specialty. The Red-eared Slider is one of the most popular species of pet turtle on the market. Add turtle meat and add enough boiling salted water to cover the meat. A vertebral keel is noticeable in juveniles but fades out with age. Porter & Luke. When looking for a place to stay, River Cooters look for plenty of basking spots as this is a beloved pastime. These tortoises prefer scrublands and dry prairies where the soil is easy to dig. At night they search for freshwater clams, thick snails, and crustaceans. While it is illegal in many states to own one, here are some facts about the Gopher tortoise. Like most Map turtles, they have pronounced keels along the ridge of their carapace. As long as you follow proper rules you can hunt turtles in Louisiana. They are under review to potentially receive federal protection. LDWF, LSU AgCenter search for cold-tolerant salvinia weevil for North Louisiana, Avid angler Chris Macaluso loves to target Chef Pass bass this month, and he bases his whole approach on the weather conditions. This subspecies of Map turtle is mostly carnivorous; they feed on mollusks, clams, and insects. I'm trying to find other turtle recipes, besides soup. Drain the meat and reserve the turtle water. Quick view Add to Cart. They like shallow, slow-moving waters, especially swamps, tidal marshes, or bogs. The Mississippi Diamond-backed Terrapin is an aquatic species favoring coastal counties of Louisiana. The front legs have large, thick claws, and serrated scales it uses for digging. Alligator Snapping turtles are instantly recognizable. And he was almost always barefoot. Remove the meat from the pot and pull it off the bones. The Kemps Ridley Sea turtle has a triangular head and a slight beak. Season turtle meat with salt and pepper. These mighty turtles are aquatic and live in deep waters like lakes or rivers. rectangles. They use their long necks to hunt and catch swift moving prey. Country folks cook turtle differently. Return first batch of meat to pot along with onion, celery, and bell pepper; cook until vegetables soften, about 10 minutes. Males have very long claws and longer tails than females. These turtles are omnivorous and will eat insects, vegetation, berries, flowers, and occasional rotting carcasses. They have large, rounded limbs with thick, sharp claws. If you have turtle eggs, throw them in the last 15 minutes before you kill the fire. Sabine Map turtles are another subspecies of Map turtles only found in small areas. From Cajun and Creole recipes to the classic New Orleans recipes, you'll find the perfect dish to make your dinner guests swoon. Their numbers are in decline because of fishing nets, boating accidents, hunting, and harvesting of their eggs. There are some restaurants in Louisiana that still serve turtle dishes. Their faces sport yellowish markings and they have yellow to cream plastrons. 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 These turtles are protected in American waters, but that doesnt stop poachers from taking them. Their scutes are covered with swirling contour patterns, similar to a map. Just like other subspecies, their carapace is usually olive green with contoured markings and a prominent keel. There, people can apply for a license to trap any of the state's 19 freshwater species, except for the more vulnerable alligator snapping turtles, box turtles, and razor-backed musk turtles . Remove the turtle from pan and allow to cool . Though these turtles are very skittish, you may see them sharing basking sites with other species. The carapace (upper shell) is olive, dark brown, or black with yellow to reddish ornate markings that resemble paint runs. Their back is covered in bony plates and a leathery skin. They dig in the mud and among vegetation to find prey. Simmer until nearly done. Smooth Softshell turtles are found in some northern areas of Louisiana. What we do is soak the turtle in milk for 30 minutes - hour (in the refrigerator). The couple pleaded guilty to selling Louisiana box turtles in 2017. Southern Painted turtles have dark brown or black smooth shells with an orange or yellow band running down the spine of the carapace. Drain, dredge in flour seasoned with salt and pepper. In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepot over high heat, melt the butter and brown the turtle pieces, about 10 to 12 minutes. cake, food cake mix, buttermilk, canola oil, eggs. These turtles have a high domed shell that they can close themselves into when threatened. Drain on paper towel. Limbs are solid colored, while the head tends to have lighter colored stripes. Their strong jaws are capable of crushing their prey. Map turtles have a pronounced keel running along their backs that tends to smooth out some as they age. . HUMOR, STORIES & POEMS. Add turtle meat. In a Louisiana study turtles were found in the stomachs of 79.82% of all alligator snapping turtles. Like most other Map turtles, Sabine Map turtles are omnivorous. Drop the heat to a bare simmer and cook until the turtle meat wants to fall off the bone, about 2 to 3 hours. Stir constantly. Frog Leg RecipesBest Fish RecipesWild Game Recipes. If they find a piece of turtle in it, its seldom larger than a match head and the soup tastes more of sherry wine than turtle. This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. Season with salt and pepper, and brown in olive oil. Southern Painted turtles are almost half the size of full grown Eastern Paints. 1 4-lb. Make a brown roux of the fat and flour. Coat pieces of meat in batter and deep fry until golden brown. They use strong jaws and sharp beaks to crush prey that is too large to swallow whole. Cut into chunks across grain. Louisiana Crawfish Tail Meat 1 lb $22. They are carnivores and will feed on any crustaceans, invertebrates, and mollusks they can find. The Sabine Map Turtle is a very close relative of the Ouachita Map Turtle. Make a roux with the cooking oil and flour in a heavy pot, preferably cast iron. These turtles can swim, but prefer to roam the earth. Crustaceans, invertebrates, mollusks, fish, tadpoles, frogs, and insects make up most of their diet. Add a little more oil if necessary and lightly saut the onion, celery and bell pepper. Turtle is cooked lots of ways: its smothered; its pot fried; its stewed; and probably best of all they make sauce piquant with it. Coloring ranges from brown to olive ringed with yellow, with patterns that resemble a net. Females leave the water to lay eggs but thats about it. Chances are youve seen Painted Turtles before because they are the most widespread turtle species in North America. Hawksbill turtle shells are marbled with brown, green, yellow, and black colors. Cooking . When hot, add the turtle meat and brown over high heat until deep brown and until some of the browning sticks to the bottom of the pot. Most are found in New Orleans and other southern cities. Add turtle meat and add enough boiling salted water to cover the meat. They also have beautiful yellow ring-like markings on their carapaces. Most Louisianans who try it today wonder what all the fuss is about. Their shells are green to olive with yellow and black markings. Add the flour and cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until the roux is light brown. Stir in orange. At the table, add 1 teaspoon sherry to each soup plate. They look like leathery pancakes, and lack a hard carapace to protects themselves. There is also 1 species of tortoise native to Louisiana which is the Gopher tortoise. As their name implies, they have three claws on their hindlegs rather than four. We also looked at 5 species of sea turtles that visit the coastlines of Louisiana. Any body got a good turtle recipe? While submerged, the Snapper is somewhat elusive and tends to swim away from threats. Heat in 15-second increments until chocolate can be stirred smooth. AUDIO & VIDEO PRODUCTS. They range through grasslands and prairies that dont always have access to water. 2 lb. cookies, vegetable oil, butter, white sugar, powdered sugar, eggs, flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, vanilla extract, ritz crackers (or any buttery round cracker) and. Even rattlesnake is said to taste like chicken, so why not just eat chicken? rabbit, cut into 8 pieces by your butcher* Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 2 cup bacon fat (or canola oil) 1 cup olive oil 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups canned tomato. Chicken turtles are omnivores who mainly feed on crustaceans, fish and invertebrates as well as plants. Serve with rice. September 21, 2011, 10:55 AM. It's also the rarest, and, . Add celery, onions, garlic and seasonings. Razorbacks inhabit slower-moving waters such as ponds and usually hide between aquatic vegetation. Ornate box turtles are classified as threatened in Louisiana. These turtles are mainly terrestrial and roam around on land in search of food. Reduce heat to medium. Of the seven total living sea turtle species, the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle is the smallest. In Louisiana they are mainly confined to a couple of eastern counties near the Pearl River. WORLD-FAMOUS FOOD PRODUCTS. While not great swimmers, these turtles prefer slower moving waterways with plenty of vegetation. Add lemon juice, eggs and parsley. TURTLE GRAVY AND RICE5-6 lb turtle meat1/2 cup flour3 yellow onions, chopped2 celery stalks, chopped2 bell peppers, chopped1/4 cup Kitchen Bouquet1 cup green onions, chopped4 cups tomatoes, stewed, crushed or whole1 cup mushrooms, sliced1/2 cup cooking oilCreole or Cajun seasoning, to taste4 cloves garlicCut turtle in small pieces and season. To get fresh drinking water, the Diamondback Terrapin will either swim to the surface and drink the rainwater that congregates there before it mixes, or they will come ashore and hold their mouths open. A typical early Reveillon menu had Daube Glace or veal grillades, egg dishes, breads, and puddings, and would often include turtle soup and oysters. Add remaining turtle meat, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil, teaspoon salt, and teaspoon pepper.