Shrimp Sea Food Boil With Corn And Potatoes

OLD BAY® SEAFOOD BOIL

Steps:

• Fill a very large stockpot fitted with a basket insert with about 8 quarts of water, or about halfway full. Squeeze lemons into the water, tossing the halves in too. Add onions, chiles, thyme, garlic, 1 2/3 cup seafood seasoning, 6 teaspoons kosher salt, and bay leaves; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Stir potatoes into the pot and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Next, add the sausage and corn; cook another 5 minutes, making sure everything stays covered with the liquid. Add the clams and boil until they open, about 8 minutes. Toss in the shrimp and shut off the heat. Cover the pot and let the shrimp steep in the flavor for 10 minutes, adding the crab in the last 5 minutes (press them into the liquid).
• Drain and spread the crab, shrimp, sausage, clams, corn, potatoes, and onions out on a newspaper-covered table or on 3 large serving trays. Sprinkle with a dusting of Old Bay® or provide for individual use.

LOW-COUNTRY BOIL WITH SHRIMP, CORN, AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Cook the shrimp boil:
• Fill stockpot with 6 qt. water (if using 2 pots, divide ingredients and water between them). Add lemons, bay leaves, salt, peppercorns, and 1/2 cup seasoning, cover, and bring to a rolling boil. Add potatoes, return to a boil, and cook 7 minutes. Add sausage and onions, return to a boil, and cook 5 minutes. Add corn, return to a boil, and cook until corn is cooked and potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, about 5 minutes more.
• Add shrimp and cook (no need to return to a boil), stirring gently, until shrimp turn pink, about 3 minutes. Remove insert or drain through a very large colander.
• Make the cocktail sauce:
• Stir ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire, lemon juice, and hot sauce, if using, in a medium bowl.
• Make the lemon-butter sauce:
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in lemon juice and hot sauce, if using. Taste and add more lemon juice, if needed. Cover and let sit in a warm place.
• Serve the shrimp boil:
• Serve shrimp boil on a newspaper-lined table or large platters. Dust with additional Old Bay, if using. Serve with sauces alongside, if desired.
• Do Ahead
• Cocktail sauce can be made 1 week ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and chill.

MILD-STYLE SHRIMP BOIL WITH CORN AND RED POTATOES

Steps:

• Combine boiling water and bouillon cubes in a large pot and stir until dissolved. Add 8 additional cups of water, onion, garlic, bay leaves, cloves, butter, salt, coriander seeds, dill seeds, mustard seeds, celery seeds, allspice, and peppercorns and bring to a boil, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Squeeze lemon juice into the pot and add lemon to the pot as well. Add potatoes and cook for 14 minutes. Add corn and cook 6 minutes more. Add shrimp and cook until opaque, about 3 minutes. Remove pot from heat.
• Add ice cubes to the pot with the shrimp boil and let sit for 5 minutes.
• For a traditional shrimp boil, place several layers of newspaper on the dining table. Use a slotted spoon to transfer shrimp, potatoes, and corn onto the center of the table for everyone to reach, grab, and enjoy. For a tidier take, place several layers of newspaper on a baking sheet. Place shrimp, potatoes, and corn on top of the sheet and place the sheet on the dining table for everyone to serve themselves. If you are a neat freak, place shrimp, potatoes, and corn in a serving dish to pass at the table.