Lowcountry Shrimp Boil

Ingredients

• 3 lb large shell-on shrimp
• 2 lb small red potatoes
• 2 lb smoked kielbasa or hot smoked sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 8 ears sweet corn, husked and halved
• 2 large yellow onions, quartered
• 1 head garlic, halved crosswise
• 3 lemons, halved
• 1/2 cup Old Bay seasoning
• 2 tbsp kosher salt
• 4 qt water
• 8 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• Cocktail sauce for serving

Before you cook

• Scrub the potatoes and leave them whole.
• Cut the sausage into pieces, quarter the onions, and halve the corn.
• Halve the garlic head crosswise and halve the lemons.
• Rinse the shrimp and keep them cold.

Steps

1. Bring the water to a boil in a 16-quart pot with the Old Bay, kosher salt, garlic, onions, and squeezed lemon halves.
2. Boil the seasoned water for 5 minutes so the spices bloom.
3. Add the potatoes and cook at a strong simmer for 12 minutes.
4. Add the sausage and cook for 5 minutes more.
5. Add the corn and cook for 5 minutes, until the kernels turn bright yellow.
6. Test a potato with a knife tip to confirm it is tender all the way through.
7. Add the shrimp, stir once, and cook for 3 minutes, until the shells turn pink and the tails curl.
8. Turn off the heat and let the pot stand for 2 minutes.
9. Melt the butter in a small saucepan.
10. Drain the pot in a large colander, discarding the lemon halves and garlic.
11. Pour everything onto a paper-covered table or a big platter.
12. Dust with a last shake of Old Bay and serve with melted butter and cocktail sauce.