Krustaceans Seafood Boil
This Krustaceans Seafood boil is a delightful mix of fresh shellfish, aromatic spices, and vegetables, perfect for gatherings.
Ingredients
Seafood Components
- 2 pounds fresh jumbo shrimp, shell-on
- 2 pounds snow crab legs, cut at joints
- 1 pound mussels, cleaned and debearded
- 1 pound clams, scrubbed
- 4 pieces lobster tails (4-6 ounces each)
- 1 pound andouille sausage, sliced into 2-inch pieces
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 2 pounds baby red potatoes, halved
- 4 ears corn, cut into thirds
- 2 large onions, quartered
- 2 heads garlic, top sliced off
- 4 pieces lemons, halved
- 4 pieces bay leaves
Seasoning Blend
- 1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning
- 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons black pepper
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
For the Boil
- 4 quarts water
- 2 cans (12 oz each) beer (lager works best)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
For Serving
- 1 cup melted butter
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- to taste hot sauce
Instructions
Preparation
- Clean all seafood thoroughly. For mussels and clams, soak in cold water for 20 minutes to remove sand, then scrub the shells and remove beards from mussels. Discard any shells that remain open when tapped. Cut your potatoes, corn, onions, and sausage as directed.
- Mix all spices in a bowl until well combined. Reserve 2 tablespoons for the garlic butter sauce.
Cooking
- In a large stockpot, combine water, beer, apple cider vinegar, and your seasoning blend. Add bay leaves and bring to a rolling boil.
- Once boiling, add potatoes and cook for 10 minutes. Then add corn, onions, garlic heads, and lemons. Cook for another 5 minutes.
- Add sausage and cook for 5 minutes. Then add crab legs and lobster tails, cooking for 5 minutes before adding clams and mussels. Cook for 2-3 minutes until shells begin to open.
- Finally, add shrimp and cook for just 2-3 more minutes until they turn pink and opaque.
- While the seafood finishes cooking, melt butter in a small saucepan. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in lemon juice, reserved seasoning blend, and chopped parsley.
- Using a slotted spoon or strainer, transfer the Krustaceans Seafood boil contents to a large serving platter.
Serving
- Drizzle with half the garlic butter sauce, reserving the rest for dipping.
Notes
For an interactive dining experience, serve seafood on a table covered with butcher paper. Provide small hammers for cracking shells and lots of napkins.