Description
Spicy Cajun Seafood Boil dances with bold Louisiana flavors, inviting coastal memories onto your plate. Succulent shrimp, juicy corn, and tender potatoes swim in a zesty garlic butter sauce that promises you’ll dive back for more.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Seafood:
- 2 pounds shrimp, shell-on
- 2 pounds king crab legs
- 2 pounds crawfish
- 2 pounds andouille sausage
Boil Liquid and Seasonings:
- 2 (12 ounces / 355 milliliters) cans of beer
- 8 quarts / 7.6 liters water
- 1 cup Old Bay seasoning
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 5 bay leaves
Aromatics and Garnish:
- 2 lemons, sliced
- 10 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- 2 large onions, peeled and sliced
Instructions
- Craft a robust flavor base by combining aromatic liquid with a dynamic blend of zesty seasonings, creating a vibrant cooking medium that will infuse the seafood with intense Cajun-style character.
- Combine the selected liquid with a medley of herbs, spices, and aromatic vegetables in a generously sized stockpot, ensuring a balanced and complex flavor profile.
- Elevate the liquid mixture to a vigorous boil, allowing the ingredients to meld and intensify for approximately 5 minutes, developing a rich, layered taste foundation.
- Let the bubbling concoction create a fragrant steam that signals the readiness of the cooking liquid, promising a deeply seasoned seafood experience.
- Reduce the heat slightly to maintain a consistent, energetic simmer that will perfectly prepare the cooking environment for the incoming seafood ingredients.
- The liquid should now be a complex, well-integrated base bursting with Cajun-inspired aromatics, ready to transform simple seafood into a memorable culinary adventure.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting cayenne pepper for mild or spicy preferences.
- Swap beer with low-sodium chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version that maintains rich flavor depth.
- Choose fresh, high-quality seafood like shrimp, crab, and crawfish for the most authentic Cajun boil experience.
- Use a large pot with a strainer basket to easily drain and serve the seafood without losing delicate seasonings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 15 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 1400 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg