Throwing a great party means having great food. But, sometimes the food part can be stressful – it’s either a ton of work or you have to pay someone else to do it. I love shrimp boils because cooking the shrimp is entertainment for the guests. My husband’s favorite past time is standing around a burner or grill and watching something cook while drinking a beer with friends. (If you have an outdoor TV, turn a game on and everyone is happy for hours).
The great news is that you don’t have to be an excellent chef to pull it off. It’s fun and easy.
The first rule in cooking shrimp is DO NOT OVERCOOK THEM. When they are overcooked, they are hard to peel. Also, remember when you take them out, they can continue to cook from all of the steam.
Follow these directions and they will come out perfect:
Boil the water and seasonings (we recommend Slap Ya Mama). Add potatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Add onions and sausage and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Add corn and cook another 10 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook 3 minutes and then pull all the ingredients out in the strainer. Don’t cook the shrimp more than 3 minutes. See more details here.
Where to get shrimp in Austin:
All grocery stores carry shrimp. If you are having a large party, you should preorder to make sure they have enough. Here are our favorite places to buy shrimp in Austin:
Other Tips:
- For easy clean-up, get some cardboard box trays (the kind that hold soft drinks). Convenience stores will usually give them to you for free. You can also order them here.
- Want a refresher on the best way to peel shrimp, go here.
Stuff you may need:
Lastly, if you’re in Austin and don’t have the pot and burner, you can rent it here.
