My husband and I love Viet-Cajun seafood restaurants like Boiling Crab in Sacramento.
These places are Cajun and Asian fusion restaurants that serve crawfish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, and other seafood. The boiled seafood comes in a plastic bag and is covered in a rich, aromatic sauce that is truly finger-licking delicious.
You’ll be eating with your hands, so you might need a bib, but that’s part of the fun.
There’s always a line at The Boiling Crab, at least when I go. I hate crowds and waiting, so I usually do a drive-by, see the line, and then drive home disappointed.
I started recreating the sauce at home to avoid the restaurant frustration.
I’m not sure if the recipe below is the actual recipe, but I think it’s pretty close. It’s delicious and will satisfy your boiled crab cravings.
Even if you can’t master the exact recipe, you can do it with this recipe.
what you need
To make this Boiled Crab Shrimp recipe, gather the following ingredients:
Shrimp: We use large shrimp, complete with head, eyes, whiskers, shell, tail, and legs. You can also use regular shrimp without adding anything extra. Remove the petiole by sliding a toothpick under where the veins are, then lifting it up between the shell parts. Just a quick rinse and you’re ready to go. Garlic: Fresh garlic is a must. A jar of minced garlic can be used in a pinch, but fresh garlic gives the best flavor. Unsalted butter: Seasonings contain salt, so using unsalted butter prevents the sauce from becoming too salty. Red curry paste: Gives the sauce an Asian flavor. Contains Thai and Vietnamese ingredients such as lemongrass, shallots, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and chili peppers. Dry Spice Blend: I use Lemon Pepper Seasoning, Cajun Seasoning, and Old Bay Seasoning. All of these contain some amount of salt. Paprika or cayenne pepper: Adds color and spiciness. I also love using Korean chili flakes (gochugaru) when I have them on hand. Sugar: I chose the sweetener. You can also use honey or other sweeteners. Water: Thin the sauce to your desired consistency. It will be even more delicious if you use unsalted dashi.
How to make Viet Cajun Shrimp Boil
Step 1: Boil the shrimp
Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the shrimp until the shells are bright orange and the shrimp are pink and opaque.
Drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Make the sauce
In a small saucepan, add butter, minced garlic, red curry paste, lemon pepper, paprika or cayenne pepper, Cajun seasoning, Old Bay seasoning, granulated sugar, and water.
Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
Step 3: Mix and serve
Add the sauce to the boiled shrimp in a bowl and mix. Transfer to a plate and serve with all the sauce.
FAQ
Can I make it with other seafood?
absolutely. Crawfish, clams, mussels, crab, etc. go well. Adjust the cooking time to avoid overcooking the seafood.
Is red curry paste necessary?
It’s key to the Asian flavor, but if you can’t find it, feel free to leave it out. You can add enough flavor to the other sauce ingredients.
Can I make the sauce first?
yes. The sauce can be made several days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Reheat briefly on the stove before adding seafood.
Storage and reheating
If you have any leftovers, store in an airtight container and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through. Apparently, the next day the shrimp will absorb the flavor and become even more delicious.
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explanation
Do you like the taste of boiled crab? You can recreate the famous shrimp at home!
Boil the shrimp: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the shrimp (2 pounds, head on, shell on) and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the shells are bright orange and the shrimp are pink and opaque. If using smaller shrimp, reduce cooking time to 2-3 minutes. Drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Make the sauce: In a small saucepan, add butter (1 stick/8 tablespoons), minced garlic (3 tablespoons), red curry paste (2 tablespoons), lemon pepper (2 teaspoons), paprika or cayenne pepper (1 teaspoon), Cajun seasoning (1 teaspoon), Old Bay seasoning (1 teaspoon), granulated sugar (1 tablespoon), and water (1/2 cup). Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil (this will take about 5 minutes), then reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Mix and enjoy: Add the sauce to the cooked shrimp in a mixing bowl and toss to coat. Transfer to a plate and serve with all the sauce.
Precautions
Don’t like shrimp? Substitute the same amount of crawfish.
Preparation time: 3 minutesCooking time: 7 minutescategory: main coursemethod: stove topcooking: Cajun and Asian fusion
