Cajun Shrimp Boil – This best easy shrimp Boil is loaded with shrimp, potatoes, eggs, crab meat, sausage, and corn, simmered in a flavorful spice broth and garlic buttery sauce.
Cajun Shrimp Boil Recipe for Your Next Gathering
Calling all seafood lovers and party enthusiasts! Let’s ditch the stuffy dinners and embrace the vibrant spirit of a classic Cajun shrimp boil. This recipe unlocks the secrets to creating this iconic Louisiana dish, perfect for any festive occasion or backyard gathering.
Variations Of Cajun Shrimp Boil
Crawfish Craving: Elevate your boil to an authentic New Orleans experience by adding crawfish along with the shrimp.
Veggie Extravaganza: Add your favorite vegetables like green beans, okra, or Brussels sprouts for a more colorful and veggie-packed boil.
Spicy Sensation: For an extra kick, add a few tablespoons of hot sauce like Crystal or Tabasco to the pot during the boiling process.
Cajun Shrimp Boil – Tips and Tricks
Citrusy Symphony: The halved lemons and oranges add a touch of sweetness and brightness to the broth. Don’t skip them!
Layer Up the Flavor: Start by boiling the water with aromatics (onion, garlic, peppercorns) and spices. Then, add the potatoes and corn to allow them to soak up the flavors as they cook.
Seafood Symphony: Add the shrimp and sausage last to ensure they don’t overcook. Shrimp only take a few minutes to become perfectly cooked and juicy.
How to Serve Your Cajun Shrimp Boil ?
The Traditional Spread: Spread newspaper or a plastic tablecloth on a large table. Pour the entire contents of the pot onto the table and let everyone dig in with their hands . Serve with crusty bread for mopping up the delicious juices.
Plated Perfection: For a less messy option, portion out the shrimp boil ingredients onto individual plates. Serve with melted butter, cocktail sauce, and lemon wedges for dipping.
How to Store Leftover Cajun Shrimp Boil ?
- Leftovers are rare, but if you happen to have any, allow the shrimp boil to cool completely.
- Strain the seafood and vegetables from the broth and store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use a different type of sausage?
Absolutely! Smoked sausage or kielbasa can be used as substitutes for andouille sausage.
How spicy should I make it?
Start with a moderate amount of seasoning and adjust to your preference. You can always add more Cajun seasoning or hot sauce at the table.
Cajun Shrimp Boil
Cajun Shrimp Boil - This best easy shrimp Boil is loaded with shrimp, potatoes, eggs, crab meat, sausage, and corn, simmered in a flavorful spice broth and garlic buttery sauce.
Ingredients
- 3 quarts water
- 1 (12-ounce) can of beer, optional
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- 3 tablespoons Creole Cajun Seasoning
- Hot sauce, to taste
- 1 medium yellow onion, roughly sliced
- 12 ounces andouille sausage, sliced into rounds
- 1 large lemon, cut into wedges
- 1 lb pre-cooked snow crab leg, fresh or frozen
- 1 lb baby potatoes
- 1 – 1 ½ lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4–6 hard boiled eggs, optional
- 4–6 ears corn on the cob
For butter sauce
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, unsalted
- 10 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon parsley, freshly chopped
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Creole Cajun Seasoning
- Hot sauce, to taste
Instructions
- In a large stockpot. Add water and beer. Bring to a boil. Season with the Old Bay seasoning, Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, or to taste.
- Add the lemon wedges and sliced onion. Stir well until combined. Boil for about 12-15 minutes.
- Add the sausages and potatoes. stir to combine. Cook for about 15-20 minutes or until fork-tender.
- Add the snow crab clusters and corn. Stir all the ingredients and boil for about 5-7 minutes or until shrimp is pink.
- Meanwhile, prepare the garlic butter sauce. Heat a saucepan over medium heat, add butter, Creole Cajun seasoning, parsley, smoked paprika, Old Bay seasoning, garlic, lemon juice, and hot sauce.
- Stir all the ingredients and simmer for about 5-7 minutes or until butter melts, stirring often. Remove from heat.
- Line a large baking sheet with fparchment paper. Remove the seafood boil contents from the pot (use a strainer) and place on the baking sheet with the hard boiled eggs. Remove and discard the onion/lemon bits.
- Add some of the seafood boil broth to thin out the sauce. Pour the garlic butter sauce over the boil ingredients. Toss to coat with everything.
- Divide into plates and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 1699Total Fat 69gSaturated Fat 20gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 37gCholesterol 1757mgSodium 6527mgCarbohydrates 159gFiber 18gSugar 35gProtein 123g
Easy Shrimp Recipes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although allchickenrecipes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
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