Carolina Crab Boil Recipes

CRAB BOIL

Steps:

• In a small stockpot, heat the oil over medium heat. Saute the artichokes, sausage and onions until lightly colored, about 5 minutes. Add 12 cups (3 quarts) water, the potatoes, crab boil spice mix, salt, hot sauce, pepper, bay leaves and jalapenos. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, add the corn and cover. Cook until the corn is tender, about 10 minutes. Add the crab and cook about 7 minutes. Strain the boil through a colander. Plate immediately on a large serving dish. Garnish with sliced green onions or your favorite fresh herb. Serve with the Garlic Bread.
• Position an oven rack in the top of the oven and preheat the broiler.
• In a small bowl, mix the butter together with the Parmesan, parsley, garlic and scallions; add hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Spread the butter mixture on both halves of the baguette. Place on a sheet pan and toast under the broiler, about 2 minutes.

CAROLINA CRAB BOIL

Steps:

• In a stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown sausage. Stir in broth, water, beer, seafood seasoning and bay leaves. Add vegetables; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are tender., Add crab; heat through. Drain; remove bay leaves. Transfer to a serving bowl; season with pepper.

CLASSIC CRAB BOIL

Steps:

• Place first 7 ingredients on a double thickness of cheesecloth. Gather corners of cloth to enclose seasonings; tie securely with string. , In a large stockpot, bring water, salt, lemon juice, cayenne and spice bag to a boil. Using tongs, add crab to stockpot; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until shells turn bright red, about 15 minutes. , Using tongs, remove crab from pot. Run under cold water or plunge into ice water. Serve with melted butter and lemon wedges.

CRAB BOIL

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add potatoes, sausages, onions, corn, and seafood seasoning. Cook mixture at a boil until the potatoes are cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• Gently drop crabs into the boiling mixture; cook until the crabmeat is cooked through, at least 10 minutes. Drain water.

SPICY BOILED CRABS, SHRIMP, POTATOES, CORN, AND GARLIC

Steps:

• In a 7- to 8-gallon kettle bring 5 gallons water to a boil.
• While water is coming to a boil, in a deep sink rinse crabs in 2 or 3 changes of water. (Do not fill sink too full or crabs may crawl out.)
• Add Zatarain's crab boil or 5 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning, cayenne, salt, lemons, and onions to boiling water and boil 5 minutes. Add potatoes and garlic and boil until tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer potatoes and garlic with a large sieve to a large platter and keep warm, covered with foil. Add corn to boiling water and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer corn with tongs to platter and keep warm, covered with foil.
• Return water to a boil. Transfer about 6 crabs carefully with long tongs to sieve, holding them down in sieve with tongs, and turn crabs out into boiling water. Add remaining crabs in same manner. Return water to a boil and cook crabs until just cooked through, about 10 minutes. (To determine doneness, remove a claw and crack it with the handle of a dinner knife. Use Knife to extract meat from claw.) Transfer crabs with sieve to another large platter and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning.
• Return water to boil and cook shrimp until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer shrimp with sieve to large platter with crabs and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon Old Bay seasoning.
• Serve crabs, shrimp, and vegetables with horseradish cocktail sauce and French bread.

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.

CAROLINA LOW-COUNTRY SHRIMP BOIL

Steps:

• In one large pot (one you would use to steam crabs or lobster) fill approximately 1/2 full with water.
• To pot add potatoes, sausage and lemons. Add 1/2 cup Old Bay seasoning and crab boil package.
• Bring to a boil.
• Boil approx 10 minutes, add corn.
• Meanwhile melt 1 stick butter in other large pot.
• Add crushed garlic, beer, 1 tablespoon salt, 3-4 tablespoons pepper and approx 4 cups water.
• Bring to boil.
• You will add shrimp to this once pot the potatoes and corn are cooked. Only takes a few minutes (5-7) for them to turn pink once they hit the boiling water.
• While shrimp is boiling, drain potatoes and corn pot. Layering as you go, add 1/2 pound melted butter and generous sprinkles of more Old Bay seasoning in a large serving bowl.
• Should do about 4-5 times until this pot is empty. This adds great flavor!
• Drain shrimp pot. Place shrimp in large bowl. Sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning.
• Serve with garden salad, fresh bread, cocktail sauce, plenty of napkins and several bowls for de-shelling. Sometimes I use use several butter warmers with clarified butter, but it isn't a must. They taste great either way!
• Sweet iced tea and beer are typically the beverages for this meal.