Shrimp Boil
Shell-on shrimp, smoked sausage, corn and potatoes cooked in one pot of spiced water and tipped onto a table. The Lowcountry summer feast.
Method
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Put the water, Old Bay, salt, lemons, garlic and onion in a very large pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes.
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Add the potatoes and boil for 12 minutes.
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Add the sausage and boil for 5 minutes.
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Add the corn and boil for 5 minutes more.
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Add the shrimp, turn off the heat and leave them in the water for 3 minutes, until pink and just cooked through.
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Drain everything in a colander and tip it out over a table covered with newspaper or onto big platters.
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Serve with the melted butter, lemon wedges and cocktail sauce.
Chef’s Tips
- Add the ingredients in stages. Each one has a different cooking time.
- Leave the shells on the shrimp. They protect the meat and flavour the water.
- Take the shrimp out after 3 minutes. Overcooked shrimp are rubbery.
Common Substitutions & Variations
- An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.
Pairing Suggestions
- Melted butter
- Cocktail sauce
- Cold beer
Storage & Reheating
Best eaten at once. Keep leftovers in the fridge up to 2 days and peel the shrimp for salads.
Common questions
How long does Shrimp Boil take to make?
About 45 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Shrimp Boil?
Add the ingredients in stages. Each one has a different cooking time. Leave the shells on the shrimp. They protect the meat and flavour the water. Take the shrimp out after 3 minutes. Overcooked shrimp are rubbery.
What should I serve with Shrimp Boil?
Melted butter; Cocktail sauce; Cold beer.
Is Shrimp Boil suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is high-protein and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Shrimp Boil?
About 620 kcal per serving, with 38 g protein, 45 g carbohydrate and 32 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.