SEASONING FOR CRAWFISH BOIL RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to a moderately hot temperature, about 400°F; if using coals, wait until they turn white-hot. 2. If desired, melt the butter in a large stockpot set over the grill or over moderate heat on a stove. Add the onion, crushed garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper, sautéing until softened, 4-5 minutes. 3. Add the Old Bay seasoning and thyme leaves; cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in the water and bring to a boil over high heat. 4. Once boiling, reduce to a steady simmer and stir in the sausage and potatoes; return to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are just tender to the tip of a knife, 10-15 minutes. 5. Add the corn to the water and return to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes and then remove from the stockpot and pat dry with paper towels. Set aside until needed. 6. Return the seafood boil to a simmer and stir in the crabs and lobster. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. 7. In the meantime, brush the corn with oil and season with a little salt and pepper. Place the corn on the grill and cook, turning a few times, until lightly charred all over, 6-8 minutes. Remove from the grill. 8. When the crab and lobster are ready, stir in the shrimp and clams. Cover and cook until the shrimp are opaque and the clams have opened, 4-5 minutes. 9. Add the parsley, lemon juice, and plenty of salt and pepper to taste to the seafood boil. Serve straight from the pot with grilled corn on the side and seafood boil sauce on the side. (See Tips for a seafood boil sauce.)

Steps:

• Pour live crawfish into a washtub or ice chest; cover with water. Drain. Repeat 3 to 4 times until crawfish are clean. Drain. Discard any dead crawfish and debris.
• Cook crawfish by boiling in hot water with the Louisiana Crawfish Boil, quartered lemon, potatoes, corn and sausage (add potatoes, corn, and sausage 15 minutes prior to crawfish). While they are cooking make the sauce:.
• Melt the margarine over low heat in a large saucepan. Add garlic and saute until translucent.
• NOTE: This will get salty fast with the Cajun seasoning and Old Bay, so add them in tiny, tiny amounts. Add Cajun Seasoning, Old Bay, cayenne pepper (start with 3 t. then add more for spiciness), lemon pepper, paprika, and liberally add Louisiana Hot Sauce. When you have the mixture right, add a tiny bit of lemon juice (roughly 1/4 lemon).
• Simmer for 10 minutes and check for flavor. Add more cayenne, paprika, or hot sauce as desired.
• Drain the boiling water (or ladle out the crawfish, sausage, and vegetables) and mix the sauce in with them. Serve with hot crusty french bread.