Best 5 Carolina Crab Boil Recipes

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**Tantalizing Taste of the Lowcountry: A Culinary Journey through Carolina Crab Boil Recipes**

Embark on a delectable adventure as we delve into the realm of Carolina crab boil, a quintessential summertime feast that captures the essence of Southern hospitality and culinary traditions. Originating from the coastal regions of the Carolinas, this iconic seafood extravaganza brings together an array of succulent seafood, savory seasonings, and aromatic vegetables, creating a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. In this article, we present a curated collection of Carolina crab boil recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic dish. From traditional methods to contemporary interpretations, these recipes will guide you in crafting an unforgettable crab boil experience that will transport you to the heart of the Lowcountry. Discover the secrets behind the perfect crab boil, with tips on selecting the freshest seafood, preparing flavorful broths, and creating an unforgettable feast that will leave your guests craving for more. Dive into a world of culinary delight as we explore the delectable depths of Carolina crab boil, one recipe at a time.

Let's cook with our recipes!

CRAB BOIL



Crab Boil image

Total crab boil for four.

Provided by Preston Hoover

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Pork     Sausage

Time 55m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 6

8 red potatoes
8 andouille sausages, sliced
4 onions, quartered
2 ears fresh corn, cut into halves
½ cup seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay®), or to taste
4 whole Dungeness crabs

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 415.6 calories, Carbohydrate 46.2 g, Cholesterol 82.5 mg, Fat 11.1 g, Fiber 9.3 g, Protein 34.1 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 4890.1 mg, Sugar 12.2 g

CAROLINA CRAB BOIL



Carolina Crab Boil image

This pot is a fun way to feed a crowd for a tailgate. You can serve it two ways: Drain the cooking liquid and pour out the pot on a paper-lined table so folks can dig in, or serve it as a stew in its liquid over hot rice. -Melissa Pelkey Hass, Waleska, Georgia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 50m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 teaspoons canola oil
1 package (14 ounces) smoked turkey sausage, cut into 1/2-inch slices
2 cartons (32 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
4 cups water
1 bottle (12 ounces) light beer or 1-1/2 cups additional reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup seafood seasoning
5 bay leaves
4 medium ears sweet corn, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound fingerling potatoes
1 medium red onion, quartered
2 pounds cooked snow crab legs
Pepper to taste

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 420 calories, Fat 12g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 143mg cholesterol, Sodium 2206mg sodium, Carbohydrate 37g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 40g protein.

DAVE'S LOW COUNTRY BOIL



Dave's Low Country Boil image

Famous in the Low Country of Georgia and South Carolina. This boil is done best on an outdoor cooker. It has sausage, shrimp, crab, potatoes and corn for an all-in-one pot all-you-can-eat buffet!

Provided by Lisa

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Seafood Main Dish Recipes     Crab

Time 1h

Yield 15

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 tablespoon seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay®), or to taste
5 pounds new potatoes
3 (16 ounce) packages cooked kielbasa sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces
8 ears fresh corn, husks and silks removed
5 pounds whole crab, broken into pieces
4 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

Steps:

  • Heat a large pot of water over an outdoor cooker, or medium-high heat indoors. Add Old Bay Seasoning to taste, and bring to a boil. Add potatoes, and sausage, and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the corn and crab; cook for another 5 minutes, then add the shrimp when everything else is almost done, and cook for another 3 or 4 minutes.
  • Drain off the water and pour the contents out onto a picnic table covered with newspaper. Grab a paper plate and a beer and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 722 calories, Carbohydrate 45.8 g, Cholesterol 333.2 mg, Fat 29.4 g, Fiber 5.5 g, Protein 67.6 g, SaturatedFat 9.2 g, Sodium 1575.9 mg, Sugar 5.1 g

CAROLINA LOW-COUNTRY SHRIMP BOIL



Carolina Low-Country Shrimp Boil image

This recipe is AWESOME for Summertime dinner parties. After trying all different recipes, I came up with this one. It seems to work well for us and anyone who tries it. You can add cayenne if you like it more spicy as well as cayenne to kick it up. We like it just like this....

Provided by Shabby Sign Shoppe

Categories     Summer

Time 1h

Yield 12-14 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

5 lbs potatoes, baby red
10 ears corn, halved
1 large lemon, quartered
5 lbs shrimp, jumbo shelled
2 lbs smoked sausage, cut 2-inch think
2 tablespoons salt, divided
3 -4 tablespoons black pepper, divided
1 (4 ounce) package zatarain seafood boil
1/2-1 cup Old Bay Seasoning, divided
12 ounces beer
4 large garlic cloves, crushed
3/4 lb butter, divided
water

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 831.4, Fat 48.1, SaturatedFat 22.1, Cholesterol 345.4, Sodium 3076.5, Carbohydrate 58.8, Fiber 7.2, Sugar 6.9, Protein 42.7

CRAB BOIL



Crab Boil image

Provided by Guy Fieri

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h45m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 23

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound baby artichokes (about 8 small), trimmed and halved
10 ounces andouille sausage, cut into 1-inch rounds
1 1/2 cups cippolini onions, peeled and halved
1 pound small red potatoes
3 tablespoons crab boil spice mix, such as Zatarain's
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon hot sauce, such as Crystal
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 bay leaves
1 jalapeno, diced
2 ears of corn (about 1 pound), cut into thirds
3 pounds live crab, purged in water to remove any debris
3 green onions, sliced, for garnish (or your favorite fresh herb)
Garlic Bread, recipe follows
2 sticks butter, softened
1 tablespoon Parmesan
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 scallion, minced
Hot sauce
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
1 French baguette, sliced horizontally

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.

Tips

  • Selecting Fresh Crabs: Opt for live crabs with a firm shell and clear, bright eyes. Avoid crabs with a foul odor or broken shells.
  • Prepping the Crabs: Rinse the crabs thoroughly under cold water and remove any weeds or debris. To minimize the mess, remove the claws and legs before cooking.
  • Seasoning the Crabs: Use a generous amount of seasoning to enhance the flavor of the crabs. Old Bay seasoning is a classic choice, but you can also experiment with other blends or create your own.
  • Boiling the Crabs: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil before adding the crabs. Ensure the water is salty enough (about 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of water).
  • Cooking Time: Cooking time depends on the size of the crabs. As a general rule, boil 1-pound crabs for 5-7 minutes and larger crabs for 8-10 minutes.
  • Keep Warm: After boiling, transfer the crabs to a cooler or insulated container to keep them warm while you prepare the sides.
  • Enjoy with Sides: Serve the crab boil with classic accompaniments such as corn on the cob, potatoes, and melted butter. Don't forget the napkins and wet wipes for a hands-on feast!

Conclusion

A Carolina Crab Boil is a delightful and memorable culinary experience that celebrates the bounty of the sea. With fresh crabs, flavorful seasonings, and a variety of sides, it's a perfect meal for gatherings and special occasions. Whether you're a seafood enthusiast or simply seeking a unique dining adventure, this classic Southern dish is sure to satisfy your taste buds and leave you craving more. So gather your friends and family, roll up your sleeves, and indulge in the vibrant flavors of a Carolina Crab Boil!

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