| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 1 hr 55 min |
| Prep: | 35 min |
| Cook: | 1 hr 20 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sea salt, preferably gray salt
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 (3-ounce) box crab boil spice (recommended: Zatarain’s)
- 1/4 cup fennel seeds
- 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
- 6 lemons, halved
- 4 medium artichokes (no need to trim)
- 8 small boiling potatoes
- 2 onions, unpeeled, ends removed
- 5 whole, unpeeled heads of garlic
- 1 cup dry wine
- 2 (1 1/2 pound) lobsters
- 1 dozen fresh clams
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp in the shell
- Melted unsalted butter
- Sea salt, preferably gray salt
- Fennel Spice Rub, recipe follows
- Hot pepper sauce
- 1 cup fennel seeds
- 3 tablespoons coriander seeds
- 2 tablespoons white peppercorns
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. When water is at a full boil, salt generously and then add bay leaves, crab boil seasoning, fennel seeds, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, coriander seeds, and lemons. Return to a boil, add artichokes, and cover. Boil for 10 minutes and then add potatoes and onions; reduce heat to a simmer and return the cover to the pot. Simmer for 5 minutes and then add garlic and wine. Simmer, covered, until artichokes, onions, and potatoes are tender; as they vegetables become tender, remove them to a serving platter (the potatoes should take about 20 to 30 minutes, and then artichokes and onions, about 30 to 40 minutes).
- After you have removed all the vegetables, add the lobsters. Cook just until they begin to turn pink, about 3 minutes. Then add the clams; after 30 seconds, add shrimp. Cook until the shrimp turn pink and begin to curl and the clams open fully, about 5 minutes.
- Cut the onions in half. Cut the artichokes in half and scoop out and discard the chokes.
- Serve the shrimp, potatoes, onions, and artichokes with shallow bowls of melted butter, sea salt, and the Fennel Spice Rub for dipping, and with jars of hot sauce.
- This is my favorite spice mixture. There is almost nothing it doesn’t taste good on or in. Use it to make spice-encrusted pork ribs, chops, or tenderloin; veal chops; chicken breasts; duck; beef; liver; or eggplant; or add a teaspoon to lentil soup.
- Put the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium heat. Watch carefully, tossing frequently so the seeds toast evenly. When light brown and fragrant, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool. They must be cool before grinding, or they will gum up the blades.
- Pour the seeds into a blender and add the salt. Blend to a fine powder, shaking the blender occasionally to redistribute the seeds. Store in a tightly sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
Reviews
This is my favorite seafood boil. I perform it a little Differently and that I add crab legs, shrimp, corn, of course the potatoes and garlic along with lemons. The spices that were chosen for this recipe are perfect! Thank you Michael!
This was awful! All the shellfish turned dark brown, thé taste of the lemons was overwhelming and there was no depth to the dish. I am going to go the French bouillabaisse way next time or if I make a steam pot, I will used fish broth and some mild seasoning. I love artichoke and it was just not appropriate to go with the shellfish. I’m very disappointed but you live and learn!