Backyard Cajun Fire Boil Recipes

CLASSIC OUTDOOR SHRIMP BOIL

Steps:

• Pour the beer into a 44-quart outdoor boil pot (see Cook's Note) and add 16 quarts cold water. Squeeze in the juice from the lemon halves, then toss them in. Add the seafood seasoning and garlic. Tie the thyme sprigs together with kitchen twine and add to the pot. Cover and bring to a boil.
• Add the potatoes and cook until they are just tender, about 10 minutes. Add the corn and andouille sausage and simmer until heated through, about 10 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook until pink, about 5 minutes.
• Carefully drain the low country boil and transfer to a large serving platter, rimmed sheet pan or straight on the table covered in paper. Drizzle with melted butter, then top with the parsley. Serve with lemon wedges, melted butter and hot sauce.

CAJUN SHRIMP BOIL

Steps:

• Fill a very large (24-quart) pot with 8 quarts of water set over high heat. Add seasoning pouches, cayenne, salt, onions and celery. Squeeze lemon juice, and add wedges. Break garlic into cloves, and discard excess skin, then add unpeeled cloves. Cover the pot, and bring to a rolling boil.
• Lay corn on a baking sheet in a single layer, then place in freezer.
• Taste the water after it comes to a boil. It should be very heavily salted and spiced, with a bright orange foam (when standing near the boiling pot causes you to cough, it's spicy enough).
• Add potatoes and sausage to the pot, and let the water return to a boil. Turn off heat, and allow to soak for 10 minutes or until potatoes are barely tender when pierced with a knife. Bring the water to a boil, and add shrimp. Cook for 3 minutes, then turn off heat, add corn and allow to soak for 7 minutes. Drain, and serve immediately with rémoulade (preferably on a newspaper-lined table).

BACKYARD CAJUN FIRE BOIL

Steps:

• Fill an extra-large pot fitted with a basket strainer about halfway with water. Squeeze lemons into water and then add them to the pot. Bring to a rolling boil. Add seasoning mix and stir to combine. When seasoned water is boiling, add onion, potatoes and corn. Cook for 5 minutes. Next, gently add crawfish and sausage and cover the pot. Cook for 5 minutes. Add shrimp to the pot, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Remove pot from heat, cover and let sit for 15 minutes to allow seafood and vegetables to absorb flavors of spices. Lift strainer out of water and allow to drain over the pot. Carefully pour basket contents out on a newspaper-lined table outside.

GRILLED CAJUN SEAFOOD BOIL

Steps:

• Heat a grill to about 375 degrees F.
• Add potato pieces to a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes, just to jump-start the cooking process. Drain.
• Arrange 4 (12x18-inch) sheets of Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil on a clean work surface.
• Divide the shrimp, slightly cooked potatoes, kielbasa and corn atop the 4 pieces of foil, piling in the center. Add 1 tablespoon butter to each pile. Drizzle each with 1 tablespoon olive oil, sprinkle with Worcestershire sauce and sprinkle generously with Creole seasoning. Squeeze a lemon wedge over each pile and add the rind to the mixture. Sprinkle with black pepper.
• Wrap each piece of foil into a tightly sealed pouch. Place on the grill. Cover. Allow to cook and steam for 15 to 18 minutes until the shrimp and potatoes are cooked through.
• Serve by carefully unwrapping the foil and serving with slices of bread and hot sauce.

HOT CAJUN-STYLE CRAB BOIL

Steps:

• Place 2 gallons of water and the crab-boil seasoning in a large stockpot, cover and bring to a boil. (Note: This can be done a few hours ahead, set aside and brought back to a boil at serving time to intensify the stock flavor.) Add salt to taste.
• Add the onions and potatoes to the boiling stock, cover and bring the stock back to a boil. Boil gently for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rinse the crabs well in a sink filled with cold water. Using metal tongs, lift the crabs from the sink, and after discarding any dead or smelly crabs, add them to the stockpot with the sausage and garlic. Bring the mixture back to a boil, and boil gently for 5 minutes.
• Add the corn, and bring the mixture back to a boil. Then, turn off the heat, and let the pot sit (up to 1 hour) until serving time.
• At serving time, drain off the stock, and arrange crab boil ingredients separately on a large platter. Serve with the hot mayonnaise (see following recipe), if desired.