Cajun Seafood Boil
Shrimp, snow crab legs, corn, red potatoes and smoked sausage boiled in a spicy Cajun-seasoned broth and tossed with garlic butter. Serves 6.
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A seafood boil is a party in a pot. Potatoes, corn, sausage, crab legs and shrimp go into a big pot of spicy seasoned water in stages so everything finishes together.
Pour it out onto a paper-lined table and finish it with a buttery garlic sauce.
Ingredients
Boil
- 5 quarts water
- 1/2 cup Cajun or seafood boil seasoning
- 2 lemons, halved
- 1 head garlic, halved
- 2 pounds small red potatoes
- 1 pound smoked andouille or kielbasa, cut in 2-inch pieces
- 4 ears corn, halved
- 2 pounds snow crab legs
- 2 pounds large shell-on shrimp
Garlic butter
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Season the water. Bring the water, seasoning, lemons and garlic to a boil in a very large pot.
- Potatoes. Add the potatoes and boil 12 minutes.
- Sausage and corn. Add the sausage and corn and boil 8 minutes.
- Seafood. Add the crab legs and boil 4 minutes, then the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes, until pink. Drain.
- Garlic butter. Melt the butter with the garlic, seasoning and lemon juice. Pour over the drained boil, toss and serve on a paper-lined table.
Tips
- Taste the water; it should be very well seasoned.
- Shell-on shrimp stay juicier and pick up more flavor.
Questions about this recipe
- What is the difference between a seafood boil and a clambake?
- A boil cooks everything in seasoned water; a clambake steams it over a little liquid.
- Can I use frozen crab legs?
- Yes; most are already cooked and just need heating.
More seafood recipes
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