Chef Matthew Raiford's Lowcountry Boil

A Lowcountry boil, also called frogmore stew in South Carolina, features peak summer ingredients from the garden and sea, and is cooked over a fire if you're lucky (this version is done on the stovetop). Serve it spread over a newspaper- or burlap-covered table with plenty of good friends and cold beer. This dish fit-for-a-crowd is the epitome of community to chef Matthew Raiford.

low-country boil on newspaper and hands reaching in
Credit: Paprika Southern
Active Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
8
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Ingredients

  • 6 quarts cold water

  • 16 ounces beer

  • 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning

  • 1 ½ teaspoons crushed red pepper

  • 2 pounds new potatoes, halved

  • 14 ounces smoked sausage, such as Wainright's, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 8 ounces peeled pearl onions, fresh or frozen, thawed

  • 4 ears fresh corn, shucked, silks removed, cut into thirds

  • 2 pound whole live blue crabs or 2 pounds crab legs

  • 2 pounds wild Georgia shrimp, tail and shell on, thawed

Directions

  1. Add 6 quarts water to a 12-quart steamer pot with a punched basket or a large stockpot (see Tip); place over medium-high heat. Add beer, Old Bay and crushed red pepper; bring to a boil. Add potatoes, sausage and onions; cook for 10 minutes.

  2. Add corn; cook for 5 minutes. Add crabs (or crab legs); cook for 5 more minutes. Add shrimp; cook until the crabs have turned bright red and the shrimp have curled and blushed pink, 4 to 5 minutes.

  3. Lift the basket from the pot and let the liquid drain off, then pour the seafood and vegetables over a newspaper-lined table or serve on several large platters.

Tip

If you don't have a steamer pot with a punched basket, you can use a large stockpot. Use a large slotted spoon or spider to retrieve the seafood and vegetables from the pot.

Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, August 2023

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

412 Calories
16g Fat
33g Carbs
36g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 3 cups
Calories 412
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 36g 72%
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 224mg 75%
Vitamin A 363IU 7%
Vitamin C 15mg 17%
Vitamin D 22IU 6%
Folate 50mcg 13%
Vitamin K 4mcg 3%
Sodium 748mg 33%
Calcium 133mg 10%
Iron 2mg 11%
Magnesium 103mg 25%
Potassium 1105mg 24%
Zinc 3mg 27%
Vitamin B12 3mcg 125%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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