The boiling season is upon us in the South. While a good low country boil can be had any time of the year, now is the time when a Southern favorite comes into season: crawfish! So in honor of our favorite little mudbug, today I’m going to be going over the basics in my low country boil guide.
What Is A Low Country Boil?
You may be wondering, just what is a low country boil? Generally, a low country boil involves some kind of shellfish, sausage, and vegetables. The most iconic grouping includes crawfish, sausage, corn, and potatoes. There are countless variations of this Southern recipe to keep things interesting.
The method of cooking should be obvious as it’s right in the name. The food is all boiled in a large pot and dumped on the table over paper towels, old newspapers, and whatever else you can find that is sanitary. It is a perfect meal for parties, family gatherings, football games, you name it.
Perhaps the biggest component of a good low country boil is the seasoning used to flavor the food. There are plenty of good packaged options available in supermarkets across the country, or you can even make your own. Generally speaking, a low country boil is a spicy affair, but milder options can be found. You can also keep the heat down by using less seasoning.
Ingredients
Virtually anything can be boiled, so you are only limited by your imagination when it comes to putting your boil together. As I said earlier, crawfish, sausage, corn, and potatoes are the classic lineup. However, if crawfish aren’t your thing, shrimp makes a great alternative. You want a good-sized head-on shrimp for maximum flavor. It’s more work, but that’s part of the fun.
Blue crabs are phenomenal in a low country boil. Like shrimp, they can be a lot of work, but they are so worth it. They are fairly abundant, so the price isn’t too prohibitive compared to other crab meat options.
Corn and potatoes are classics, and probably two of my favorites, but there are other great vegetable choices for a boil. Carrots are an excellent addition. Their natural sweetness blends well with the spiciness of the boil. Mushrooms and Brussel sprouts are excellent choices as well.
I’ve seen plenty of oddball things thrown into a boil, everything from hot dogs to turkey necks. As I said before, you are only limited by your imagination. You never know what will come out amazing until you try it.
The spice mix is crucial to a good boil. There are a ton of good brands out there, ranging from Zatarain’s, Louisiana Fish Fry Products, and Old Bay. I encourage you to try different brands till you find the one you like best. If you are feeling really ambitious, you can even try making your own.
Cooking Times
Cooking times will vary for different ingredients. Most vegetables like corn on the cob, carrots, mushrooms, etc will take about 15 minutes. Small red potatoes can be done this quickly too, but the bigger ones will take up to 30 minutes. Sausage takes around 15 minutes to cook as well.
Shellfish cook considerably faster. Shrimp cooks in as little as 2 minutes. As soon as all the translucent color is gone, the shrimp is done. You have to be careful because you don’t want to overcook your shrimp, or it will turn tough and rubbery.
Crawfish is a little different. The mudbugs will boil for about 5 minutes, but then they need to soak in the boiling mixture in order to absorb the flavor. You want the boil to come to a complete stop so you don’t overcook the crawfish, so you might need to add some ice to stop the cooking process. You don’t want them sitting in ice-cold water, you just need to stop the boil.
All of these times require a nice rolling boil. If you start throwing food in the minute you see a few bubbles, you will drop the temperature of the water and extend the cooking time. The same thing will happen if you overcrowd your pot.
Equipment
A low country boil can be achieved with as little as a stove and stockpot. The only downside to this is your house is going to smell like a low country boil for a couple of hours if you don’t have good ventilation. The smell given off by the boiling spice mix is quite strong.
If you want to do your boil outside, you need a turkey fryer/seafood boiler. You can find this piece of equipment for as little as $50. Kits that include propane tanks and pots will cost a bit more.
A turkey fryer is a good investment, as it has multiple culinary uses. On top of low country boils, fried turkey and whole fried chickens are amazing. This piece of equipment will open you up to new culinary possibilities.
You should now have a basic understanding of the low country boil. You can take this information and build your own custom recipes and techniques, as the low country boil is one of those deeply personal culinary experiences. Everyone has their own way of doing things. Now it’s time to create yours!
