Cajun Crab and Shrimp Boil

Cajun Crab and Shrimp Boil

Cajun Crab and Shrimp Boil

This was inspired by a couple visits to Joe's Crab Shack.
This is an almost nationwide chain of slightly upscale seafood restaurants (they're not in New Mexico or several other states) that offers a more extensive menu than Red Lobster, for instance, with the emphasis on the "fun atmosphere" which the Google Maps entry refers to.

Joe's in Amarillo, Texas

Fun Atmosphere ??

 In this Garden Grove location, the staff put on a little group dance to entertain the guests during our evening meal.

Joe's in Garden Grove, California

One of the prominent additions to the usual seafood restaurant menu is their Steampots, which offer a variety of ingredients boiled up in a pot. You get plenty to eat, but I thought they failed a little bit in the execution, providing seafood, whole potatoes, corn on the cob, etc. without pulling it all together into a satisfying whole.

So, after finding some snow crab clusters on sale for a reasonable price, I decided to try my own version and came up with my version. It uses the classic Cajun vegetables of onion, celery and bell pepper with coarsely chopped potatoes still in the skin for quicker cooking and easier eating. The shrimp bouillon powder combined with cooking the shrimp in their shells gives the broth a wonderful seafood taste. Start easy on the cayenne and add a little to season to taste so you don't overwhelm the flavor of the crab and shrimp.

For a less hands-on presentation, shell the crab and shrimp and add the seafood back into the broth before serving.

Ingredients

2 Snow Crab clusters, about 1 pound
Whole uncooked shrimp, about 1 pound (28-32 count)
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp shrimp bouillon powder
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
 1 red bell pepper, cut into medium length slices
1 14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes
4 red potatoes, washed and cut into chunks
1/4 - 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
4 cups water

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute for about 5 minutes, until the onions soften and start to brown.

Saute onions in oil with garlic

 2. Add the celery and saute for 2-3 minutes.

Add celery

3. Add the bell pepper and saute for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and 2 cups of water, using some water to rinse the can of tomatoes. Heat to a boil, add the potatoes, reduce heat to medium and boil for about 15 minutes.

Add bell pepper, tomatoes and 2 cups of water

Add potatoes and boil for about 15 minutes

 4. Add the snow crab clusters. Add more water, turn up the heat and boil for five minutes.

Add snow crab clusters

 5. Add the whole shrimp, stir into the mixture and boil for another 5 minutes, just until the shrimp turn pink and are done. Don't overcook the shrimp or they will get tough.

Add whole shrimp

6. Serve the crab on the side with some shrimp in the soup.