Low Country Shrimp Boil

By Ann Fulton

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This festive, all-in-one meal is sure to become a summertime favorite! For a small gathering or fun weeknight family meal, simply cut the recipe in half.

 

When I offered to cook for a dozen or so family members this past Mother’s Day, I pondered the perfect recipe long and hard. Ideally, the meal would be festive and fun while allowing time for me to enjoy the special day, too.

Crab fests have long been a summer tradition in both my husband’s and my family. Piles of Old Bay crusted crabs are strewn over newspaper-covered tables and everyone pounds, picks, and enjoys one another’s company for hours.

My older son recently developed an allergy to crabs, so I’d been contemplating an alternative that was equally festive but allowed him to partake. Crab fests aren’t nearly as much fun for the person relegated to eating chicken.

Of course, finding a worthy replacement for the crab loving set is no easy task. But a discussion with a shrimp company for which I was doing recipe development work provided some helpful inspiration.

In a conversation earlier this year with several of The American Shrimp Company’s Louisiana-based employees, I asked a simple question: What’s the most popular way to enjoy the abundant supply of wild caught shrimp in the South? Without hesitation, they offered up the Low Country Shrimp Boil.

The perfect meal to enjoy outdoors all summer long…but sometimes Mother Nature requires that dinner be enjoyed indoors!

This immediately brought back memories of my first shrimp boil. The requisite ingredients were placed in a mesh bag and tossed into a big pot of boiling water until the potatoes were tender. The potatoes tasted fine but the shrimp and corn were rather tough!

Timing is the real secret to success in this otherwise easy recipe that was inspired by an Old Bay recipe.  Adding the various ingredients in stages assures that nothing is over or undercooked. Meanwhile, the seasoned cooking water infuses great flavor.

As with any regional recipe, variations abound from one family to the next. Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning is sometimes used instead of Old Bay, which inspired this recipe. (Note that the former has a higher salt content and I have not tested it in the following recipe). Vegetables, proteins, and stock flavorings can be adjusted according to preference. One Louisiana native told me that his relatives add broccoli to their shrimp boil; others opt for crab legs. Smoked sausage is a common addition that I knew would be popular with my family.

 

From my three-year-old niece to my 82-year-young dad, this meal was a bigger hit than I ever expected with our Mother’s Day crowd. Thanks to my guests’ stamp of approval, I am sharing today with Happy Father’s Day wishes. The simple prep is a gift to the cook as well as the guests, and it would be equally well suited to Fourth of July and Labor Day festivities or any casual backyard get-together.

P.S. I’ve included a handful of notes and tips following the recipe. The added lines of type are not an indication of a complicated recipe but offer details that may be helpful whether preparing this for a small group or a large crowd.

Low Country Shrimp Boil
A festive all-in-one meal and surefire crowd-pleaser, you may wish to cut the recipe in half for a fun weeknight meal.

Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 4 quarts water*
  • 1 (12-ounce) bottle or can of beer**
  • 1 lemon, quartered
  • 1 head or garlic, halved (with skins on)
  • 1/2 cup (62 grams) Old Bay Seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 8 medium red potatoes, quartered***
  • 1 large or 2 small Vidalia onions, peeled and cut into 4-8 wedges, depending on size (leave root end to better keep them in tact)
  • 2 pounds smoked sausage, cut into 1- to 2-inch lengths****
  • 8 ears corn on the cob, husked (cut in half if desired)
  • 4 pounds large wild caught American shrimp, uncooked with shells ON (look for packages marked “Easy Peel”—they work GREAT!)
  • Options for serving: cocktail sauce, spicy mayo, Tabasco sauce, lemon wedges, rolls, cornbread
Instructions
  1. Add the water, beer, lemon, and garlic to a 12 to 14-quart stock pot (the bigger the better), and bring to a boil.
  2. Add the Old Bay, salt, potatoes, and onions; cook over high heat for 8 minutes. (Throughout this process, you want to maintain a steady boil. If high heat creates too ferocious of a boil, adjust the heat down slightly.)
  3. Add the smoked sausage; continue to cook on high for 5 minutes.
  4. Add the corn to pot; boil for 7 minutes.
  5. At this point, the potatoes should meet little resistance when pierced with a sharp knife.  Add the uncooked shrimp in shells, and cook for 3 minutes or until just pink.
  6. Immediately (and carefully) drain the cooking liquid, and then pour the contents of the pot into several large bowls or shallow pails. Sprinkle lightly with additional Old Bay and serve.
Notes
  • *I often prepare the pot several hours in advance, measuring out the water and then adding the garlic, lemon, and beer. I measure the salt and Old Bay and place it in a small bowl next to the pot. Salt can corrode some pot finishes so, when in doubt, it’s best to add the salt once the water has come to a boil.
  • **For a non-alcoholic version, you may replace the beer with additional water or use chicken broth. For a gluten-free option, you may use your favorite GF beer. Also, the FDA considers Corona Light to be gluten-free because it meets their standards of less than 20ppm. Just don’t use an IPA, gluten-free or regular, as a hops-heavy beer tends to turn bitter when cooked.
  • ***When I can find them, I prefer to use 2-1/2 to 3 pounds of very small red or new potatoes (no larger than 1 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter). These can be left whole, which results in a slightly superior texture once cooked.
  • ****I like to use a combination of spicy Andouille and mild kielbasa. Choose based on personal preference. When mixing, cut one variety on the diagonal and one straight across so those who don’t like spicy foods know what to avoid.
  • Additional Tips:
  • Keep your timer nearby, as it ensures that all the components are perfectly cooked. I serve this with a quick homemade cocktail sauce (ketchup, horseradish to taste, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce) and spicy mayo (mayonnaise and sriracha sauce to taste). You could serve with melted butter, too, although my butter-loving family never asked for it.
  • The Old Bay in this recipe provides flavor but very little heat. For those who prefer more spiciness, cayenne pepper may be added to taste—or serve with Tabasco sauce.
  • This is truly a meal in itself. I like to round it out with a basket of rolls or cornbread.
  • For a fun, festive, and easy dessert, my sister-in-law recently brought chocolate covered strawberries (she dipped them in melted Wilber Buds!) and ice cream and root beer for root beer floats. Both were huge hits.
  • Line the table with newspaper for easy cleanup.
  • The recipe may easily be cut in half for an easy weeknight meal, although my family considers any leftovers a treat.
  • Preps in 15 minutes, cooks in about 45, which includes the time it takes to bring the cooking liquid to a boil. For a large crowd, double the recipe but use two separate large pots—and be sure to have two timers. Despite best planning, the water is likely to come to a boil at two separate times, and it’s far easier to ensure success when the cooking times are closely followed.
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A few fun odds & ends:  

  • Christina from The American Shrimp Company mentioned that many people boil mushrooms in addition to the customary potatoes, lemons and corn, and that some even boil whole cans of green beans, hot dogs, and oranges.  It all comes down to personal preference and family tradition.
  • Christina also told me that her aunt is Tony Chachere’s granddaughter and they live in his old home.
  • Depending on location, this meal may be referred to as a low country or southern shrimp boil.  My friends in Louisiana say they usually just call it a shrimp boil.  (Whatever you call it, it’s likely to be a newfound hit!)
  • If you think butter will be expected for the corn, you could try my butter bread trick—cut pieces of sandwich bread into squares about the size of a pat of butter and top with…a pat of butter! Small, sturdy crackers may be used in lieu of bread.  This makes for no-mess buttering and no wait for the lone dish of butter to be passed. 😊

 

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Comments

  1. Trudy

    Fabulous tasting and easy for entertaining. I halved the recipe for Memorial Day for my small family and it was so good I made it Friday for company. It is easy to prep like you instructed. I set the timer between ingredients so I wouldn’t get distracted. Since I used little potatoes I decreased the time to 5 minutes between additions and added green beans with the shrimp. I know the beans aren’t “low country” but I love green veggies. It received rave reviews. Thanks Ann!

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Trudy, Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. I’m delighted you made this-and then made it again! The addition of green beans sounds perfect. Whether it’s traditional or not, I always appreciate when extra veggies can be easily added.Thanks for mentioning!

      Reply
  2. Trudy Eby

    Fabulous! Served for Memorial Day for a small family dinner and everyone loved it! I did as you suggested and prepped everything beforehand so it was easy to just set the timer and add ingredients. Since I halved the recipe and used tiny potatoes I adjusted times accordingly.
    PS I had made this years ago when you first shared it but had forgotten. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
    PPS I still miss you in the newspaper but I appreciate when you show up in my email.

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Awww Trudy, thank you for the lovely comment! It means so much that so many people still miss my column, and I am extra delighted that you made this and enjoyed.❤️

      Reply
  3. Lonnie Post author

    The shrimp boil turned out great and thank you for the recipe! Everyone loved it! I will definitely do that again.

    Reply
  4. Alicelynne Post author

    Do you have any suggestions to accompany this meal, which I prepared last summer ? My nephew is getting married towards the end of June and his fiance’s grandfather would like to prepare this for the Friday evening gathering for about 40 people. My sister and I think we should add another dish to the menu (pasta, green salad??) but would like any suggestion you might feel would fit in.

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Hi Alicelynne, What a fun meal for a pre-wedding dinner! I like to serve the shrimp boil with a side of cornbread—you could add basic rolls, too. For such a large group it would be nice to have a hearty side like a pasta salad, which would provide an option for anyone who might not love seafood. A big veggie tray with dip would offer an alternative to a green salad, although I usually find that a good green salad goes over well. I hope this is somewhat helpful. If you have additional questions, feel free to ask!

      Reply
  5. Janet Post author

    The shrimp boil was a great success thanks to the many helpful detailed hints and directions you provided. Loved the pats of butter on the bread. I have a huge stainless steel salad bowl into which I put the shrimp boil after draining most of the liquid. That worked great. I used ALL your hints. I loved the adventure of this meal. It was for my brother’s birthday celebration and he especially enjoyed it as I knew he would. More than a year ago you did something with avocados. I took a class at the Kitchen Shoppe where we grilled avocados that were brushed with avocado oil, sprinkled with sweet smoked paprika and Jamaican jerk seasoning which was then served with a grapefruit salsa. I wanted to tell you about that as I read about your smoked paprika, too.

    Thanks again for your interesting, helpful and motivating column. Yum, yum!

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      I’m delighted this recipe was a birthday celebration success and so appreciate your thoughtful feedback, Janet. Also, the avocado recipe sounds divine. Thanks for mentioning!

      Reply
  6. Lisa Post author

    I made this for the 4th of July as everyone was standing around talking. The timer made it easy to be a part of the conversation and not feel as though I was distracted by cooking. Just had to add everything at the appropriate time. The best part was when everyone dug in. The compliments came fast and furiously and requests to have this meal again soon were many. Thanks for a new family favorite! (P.S. The kids loved seeing the comics as a table cover!)

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      My kids still love the comics as a table cover…actually, the adults think it’s pretty fun, too! So glad this was a hit, Lisa!

      Reply
  7. Dana Post author

    We served this for a family birthday party and it was A MAJOR HIT! Everyone sat around the table peeling and dipping and having a wonderful time. This will be a summertime staple from here on out!

    Reply
  8. Jon Post author

    I made the Low Country Shrimp Boil for Father’s Day. Turned out great! A definite make-again.

    Reply
  9. Sheree

    This looks so delicious! Now I want to go out and buy some shrimp! Great idea for a large gathering. Is that cornbread in the right corner of the first photo? Please share your recipe when you get a chance! Thank you! I love your recipes.

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Thank you, Sheree. You’ll love it! Also, that’s a pepperoni cheddar cornbread. I will plan to share the recipe one of these days soon!

      Reply
  10. Helen S.

    Love the idea about a pat of butter on bread or a cracker. Of course, my husband the “butter lover”, would need a few!!

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      We love it, too, Helen, and now if I don’t make them when serving corn on the cob, someone usually asks for them!

      Reply