Description
A Low Country boil — also called Frogmore Stew, depending on which part of the Carolina coast you are standing on — is the Southern coastal version of a one-pot feast. Everything cooks in the same seasoned water, layered by cook time, so the potatoes, corn, sausage, and shrimp all come out perfectly done. It is outdoor party food that scales effortlessly and requires exactly zero culinary skill beyond a timer.
Ingredients
Units
- 2 lbs large shrimp, shell-on
- 1 lb smoked andouille sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 lbs small red potatoes
- 6 ears corn, shucked and halved
- 1/3 cup Old Bay seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 lemons, halved
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large yellow onion, quartered
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Cocktail sauce for serving
Instructions
- Fill a very large stockpot (at least 12 quarts) with water. Add 1/3 cup Old Bay, smashed garlic, lemon halves, bay leaves, onion quarters, and salt. Bring to a rolling boil.
- Add the potatoes and boil 12 minutes until nearly fork-tender.
- Add the sausage and corn. Boil 6 minutes.
- Add the shrimp and boil 3 minutes until just pink. Drain immediately — overcooked shrimp are rubber.
- While the boil cooks, stir together melted butter, minced garlic, 1 tablespoon Old Bay, and parsley.
- Dump the drained boil onto a newspaper-covered table or large platter. Drizzle the seasoned butter over everything.
- Serve with cocktail sauce, extra lemon wedges, and cold drinks.
Notes
- The order of ingredients matters — potatoes go first because they take the longest, shrimp go last because they cook in minutes.
- Shell-on shrimp stay juicier and absorb more seasoning from the boil. Peeling them is part of the communal eating experience.
- This feeds a crowd easily. For every additional 4 people, add another pound of shrimp and sausage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 910
- Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 38
- Cholesterol: 200