Craving seafood? You gotta try my mouth-smackin seafood boil and butter sauce!
When I was a child, I HATED seafood. I especially disliked crab legs because it seemed so barbaric eating the meat out of a carcass. Now I LOVE crab legs and my favorite is this easy seafood crab platter.
Random fact: My family had a cook-off last Christmas. I won with this recipe.
My family can’t get enough of this platter, and days like this when I crave seafood soooo bad, I have to make me a seafood tray featuring my cilantro garlic butter sauce to throw on top of all this deliciousness! Seafood trays can be pricey so a great way to cut the price is to make it yourself! It’s so easy and so delicious!
I LOVE king crab legs (my favorite… but pricey) but feel free to use whatever crab legs you like such as snow crab legs (which I use sometimes too). I also add shrimp, sausage, boiled eggs, potatoes and corn because I already have a muffin top, I might as well add to it. If you want really want to eat a vegetable with it, I recommend artichokes which pair extremely well with my sauce!
I like to add lots of seafood seasoning (*cough* ol bay *cough*) to my tray. You can literally throw everything in one pot (minus the crab legs, which I like to steam in a separate pot with beer, lemon and ol bay seasoning). Again, seafood trays are easy. If it’s hard, you’re doing too much!
Ingredients
- 4-6 Crab Legs
- One can of Beer (I use whatever is cheap at the store)
- Old Bay or Seafood Seasoning (to taste)
- 2 Lemons cut in half
- Frozen Corn
- Red Potatoes or any small potatoes
- Shrimp
- Sausage (optional)
- BUTTER GARLIC SAUCE:
- 2 sticks of melted unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp crushed garlic
- 8 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt & Pepper(to taste)
- 1-2 tbsp of lemon juice
Instructions
1. In one pot, bring 5 quarts of water to boil. Squeeze lemon juice into water and then add the lemon halves to water. Add seafood seasonings (to taste)
2. Add potatoes and allow to cook until tender (remember the smaller the potatoes, the quicker they cook!). Once tender add in frozen corn (5-8 minutes).
3. Reduce heat to medium-low and add shrimp (should be completely submerged) about 5 minutes. Feel free to add more seafood seasonings as you add each component to the pot. If you’re adding in sausage, you would throw it in the pot right before the shrimp.
4. In a separate pot combine beer, seafood seasoning, and lemon halves. Bring to a boil. Turn heat down to medium, add crab legs and cover pot. Allow to steam for 10 minutes (crab legs should be red).
5. Add all of the butter sauce ingredients together and whisk together until its thick. Pour on the tray!
Seafood boil FAQ:
Here are some common questions and answers when it comes to the seafood boil:
How long should I cook the crab legs?
If using frozen crab legs, cook them for about 5-7 minutes. For fresh crab legs, 3-5 minutes should suffice. Remember, you’re mainly reheating them, as most crab legs are pre-cooked.
Should I add salt to the boiling water?
It’s generally not necessary to add extra salt, as most seafood boil seasonings already contain salt. However, you can adjust to taste.
Can I make a seafood boil without a large pot?
While a large pot is ideal, you can use a turkey fryer or even cook in batches using a smaller pot. Just ensure all ingredients are fully submerged and cooked through.
How do I know when the crab legs are done?
Crab legs are done when they turn bright red and smell fragrant. You can also check by cutting into the thickest part of a leg – the meat should be opaque and steaming.
Can I add other types of seafood to my boil?
Absolutely! Mussels, clams, crawfish, and even lobster tails make great additions. Just adjust cooking times accordingly, as some seafood cooks faster than others.
