Lemongrass Shrimp Boil
Seafood tossed in lemongrass ginger butter.
This recipe breakdown originally appeared in The Mouthful, our weekly food newsletter for the curious home cook.
This recipe gets you all the flavor and eating experience of a Vietnamese crawfish boil, but achievable in a home kitchen. If you haven't had seafood tossed in lemongrass-ginger butter, you're in for a treat.
Keith McBrayer
Ingredients
Broth components
- stock~ 1000 g
- garlic, smashed3-4 cloves
- lemongrass, 2” sections, crushed1-2 stalks
- fresh ginger, sliced1” knob
- lemon juice1/2 lemon
- cajun seasoninga spoonful
Protein & vegetables
- jumbo shrimp, deveined~ 900 g
- andouille sausages, sliced~ 450 g
- red potatoes, halved~ 400 g
- corn ear, sliced into chunks6-8
Butter components
- garlic, chopped3-4 cloves
- lemongrass, chopped1-2 stalks
- fresh ginger, chopped1” knob
- butter1/2 stick
Method
Step 1: Simmer the broth
Partially fill a large pot with water or broth, leaving enough room for the potatoes and corn later.
Add a few handfuls of lemongrass, ginger, garlic, and squeezed lemon halves, and bring to a . Add a generous amount of cajun seasoning and taste.
- It should taste stronger than you’d want soup — this will season all the other ingredients.
Step 2: Add the potatoes & corn
Add the potatoes to the mix and until softened. When they are almost done, add the corn.
Step 3: Mix the butter
In a small saucepan melt butter and a few handfuls of chopped garlic, lemongrass & ginger. Once the butter is bubbling, but not browned, turn off the heat and set aside to infuse.
Step 4: Sear the sausage & shrimp
In batches, add the sausage coins to a hot pan until on both sides. Once done, add to the pot.
In batches, the shrimp to get some color on the shells (but not cooked all the way through, and set aside.
Step 5: Poach the shrimp
Once everything is cooked through in the pot, add the remaining shrimp to the boil. Cook for 60-90 more seconds or until the shrimp is , but not overcooked.
Step 6: Combine & serve
Using a spider or slotted spoon, remove all of the ingredients from the boil pot onto a serving platter.
Taste each ingredient for seasoning, and adjust with a sprinkle of salt or seasoning if needed. Serve with additional lemons and aromatic melted butter (either over top, or on the side for people to dip into).
- Instruct diners to eat with their hands, peeling the shrimp and eating around any whole aromatics.
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