One-Pot Shrimp Boil with Corn and Potatoes

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This traditional one-pot dish is served with spicy butter and a flavorful broth for dipping.

Prep Time:
40 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
Servings:
8

Celebrate the end of summer with a New Orleans-style shrimp boil. In this traditional one-pot dish, the shrimp, corn, and potatoes are cooked together in a broth flavored with dried bay leaves, allspice, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, dill seeds, and red pepper flakes.

Ingredients

  • 2 lemons, halved

  • 2 medium onions, halved

  • 4 garlic cloves, smashed with the flat side of a large knife blade

  • Coarse salt

  • Spice Bundle for One-Pot Shrimp Boil

  • 3 pounds medium red potatoes, scrubbed

  • 8 ears fresh corn, shucked and broken in half

  • 3 pounds unshelled large shrimp, tail on

  • Spicy Butter

  • Hot sauce

Directions

one-pot shrimp boil recipe on a platter
  1. Add spices to boiling water:

    Bring 5 quarts of water to a boil in a 10- to 12-quart pot. Squeeze lemon juice into water, then add the halves. Add onions, garlic, salt, and spice bundle. Reduce heat to a simmer; cover, and cook 10 minutes.

    If you don't own a large enough pot, you can use two smaller pots to make this recipe. Just divide the ingredients in half, wrapping the spice mixture in two bundles.

  2. Boil potatoes and corn:

    Add potatoes to pot; return liquid to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until potatoes are almost tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Add corn; continue cooking 5 minutes more.

  3. Cook shrimp and reserve broth:

    Remove from heat. Stir in shrimp, submerging them completely. Cover, and let stand until shrimp are cooked through, about 3 minutes.

    Ladle 2 cups of broth into a glass measuring cup; drain the rest in a large colander, discarding liquid.

  4. Make spicy butter:

    In a small bowl, stir together melted butter and hot sauce to taste. Divide butter among small dishes or ramekins.

  5. Serve with reserved broth and spicy butter:

    Divide reserved broth among small bowls for dipping. Transfer shrimp and vegetables to a large platter, and serve with spicy butter, if desired.


Originally appeared: Everyday Food, September 2004

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