Backyard Cajun Fire Boil Food

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.

CRAWFISH BOIL

Steps:

• Place the peppercorns, coriander, clove, and allspice into a spice grinder and grind for 10 to 15 seconds.
• Fill a 40-quart pot with 5 gallons of water and add the freshly ground spices, salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, thyme, oregano, dry mustard, dill weed, and bay leaves. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, approximately 40 minutes.
• Rinse the crawfish thoroughly in the bag in which they arrived to remove excess dirt and mud. Put the crawfish in a large container and fill with cool water. Stir to remove dirt from the crawfish. Transfer small batches of crawfish to a colander and rinse under cool running water. Pick out any debris or dead crawfish. Once all crawfish have been rinsed, discard dirty water, and return the crawfish to the container. Repeat this process 6 to 8 times, or until the water is clear.
• Once the seasoned water comes to a boil, add the potatoes, corn, garlic, and sausage. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Add the crawfish, cover, and cook for 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the pot to sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Drain well and serve immediately.

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).