Homemade Shrimp Boil Seasoning Recipes

DADDY'S SHRIMP OR CRAB BOIL SEASONING SECRET

Steps:

• 1. First, place a small skillet on medium/medium hight heat. Add the chili powder cayenne, and cajun seasonings to the DRY skillet and toast, stirring constantly, until they become fragrant. This helps the spices to "bloom" and release their flavor.
• 2. SHRIMP: Place the raw, shell-on shrimp into a pot and rinse once with cool water, then just barely cover with fresh water. Place the pot on the stove, add all the spices and heat on medium high until the shrimp mixture starts to boil. Keep an eye on them at this point, stirring freguently, and they will be done as soon as they turn pinkish white and start to curl, about 3 to 5 minutes. You do not want to overcook them, or they will become rubbery. Immediately remove from heat and drain off the liquid, save for about a 1/4 cup. Add two cups of ice to a separate bowl and add the shrimp and reserved liquid, stirring for a few minutes to aid in cooling. My Dad always used to throw the steaming bowl of shrimp into the freezer to cool. You can serve them hot, warm, or chilled, shell on or off.
• 3. CRAB: Follow above cooking directions except cover raw crabs with an inch of cold water. Once the water boils, the crabmeat will turn opaque and the shells an orange shade, about 7 minutes. remove from water and serve hot.

EMERIL'S FAVORITE BOILED SHRIMP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the peppercorns, coriander seeds, celery, tarragon, thyme, parsley, Essence, salt, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, white wine, water and bay leaves and bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 5 minutes. Add the shrimp to the boiling water, stir, cover and remove from the heat. Let stand for 8 to 10 minutes, or until shrimp are just cooked through.
• Strain in a colander and transfer the shrimp to a large bowl. Discard the cooking liquid and seasonings. Refrigerate the shrimp until well chilled, about 1 hour. While the shrimp are chilling, make the Cocktail Sauce.
• When ready to serve, divide the shrimp among 4 small bowls, and hang them on the rim of each bowl. Divide the cocktail sauce into 4 equal portions and place in the bottom of each bowl. Garnish each bowl with a lemon wedge. Alternatively, you can arrange a layer of crushed ice in the bottom of 4 bowls, put a small ramekin of the cocktail sauce in the ice and arrange the shrimp on the ice around the sauce.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
• Combine all ingredients in a small non-reactive bowl and stir until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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).