Low Country Boil: The Carefree Way to Cook for a Crowd
The end of summer is prime time for laid-back gatherings with family and friends, but when you’re in charge of feeding everyone, the vibe can go from free and easy to frenzied and frazzled. Even supposedly simple solutions like burgers end up being more of a hassle than you bargained for once you prep all the fixins and sides.
Enter the Low Country Boil. It’s a one-pot wonder that’s so simple even the little ones can pitch in to get the job done. If you’ve got older students who can chop food into chunks and set a timer, they can pull it off single-handedly. Best of all, in spite of its simplicity, it has that extra something that lets your guests know you’re treating them to a special meal.
Sometimes called Frogmore Stew, mastering this dish is just a matter of adding simple ingredients in the right sequence so everything ends up cooked to perfection at the same time. Regional variations substitute crab or crawfish for the shrimp or add a bit of Cajun heat to the mix.
The Prep List
Many hands make light work, so we recommend getting the whole family in on the prep. You can view or print the full recipe here, but for quick reference, here’s the task list:
Slice lemons into halves.
Scrub potatoes and cut into halves or quarters, depending on size
Peel onions and cut into quarters
Cut sausage into bite-size pieces
Snap ears of corn into halves (by hand)
Melt butter
The Process
This 90-second video gives an overview of the cooking process. It really is easy enough for a kid to do it. (Make sure they’re well informed about safety with regard to rising steam, hot splashing liquids, etc.)
No, no, no! Don’t throw out that leftover broth!
It’s absolutely packed with flavor. Once cooled, it can be refrigerated or frozen for use in other recipes. We highly recommend trying it in our Piedmont Chicken and Rice.
This is yet another one-pot favorite, and it received very high test kitchen ratings. The rice cooks to a creamy, risotto-like consistency, and the zucchini absorbs so much flavor from the broth that the kids won’t mind the vegetation. You can view or print the recipe here.
If you try either of these recipes, circle back and tell us how it went. And if your kids took charge in the kitchen, we’d love for you to share pictures on our Facebook page!