Summer Shrimp Boil

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Plan a Summer Shrimp Boil they will never forget. Dump this scrumptious meal on a table lined with newspaper or freezer wrap and eat it with your fingers.

Summer Shrimp Boil using Galvanized Buckets

Everyone just stood by the table and ate right there without a plate or silverware. Of course, this kind of meal is meant to be eaten with your fingers, and maybe a great big bib!

Serving a Summer Shrimp Boil

I’ve hosted a Shrimp Boil for my family a couple of times now, and we always LOVE it. The first time we held it inside because of the Kansas heat. We decorated the table in bright colors of summer, and I served all of it from a big bowl.

Hosting a Shrimp Boil Outside on a Large Paper Lined Table

The next time I wanted my grandchildren to experience the awe of eating outside from the table, with no plates or utensils. Don’t you know, the horrid flies chose that very moment in the summer to come out and visit us. Not the day before or even an hour before. But right then. And they swarmed the tables. I guess they thought they were part of the invitation list! Ah, the joys of living in Kansas. Even still, it was delicious and so much fun!

Just Shrimp – Jumbo Size

For both of these boils, I concentrated the seafood on shrimp alone, rather than with scallops, prawns, and crab legs. Oh, and I like to buy Wild Caught Argentina Red Shrimp from Sea Best. They come in 2 pound packages and are jumbo size. My grocer has them on sale for $17 at least four times a year, so I like to stock up when they are on sale. And they taste great. My entire family gives them 5 stars!

How to Cook a Shrimp Boil

When planning for a shrimp boil, consider the boiling pot as well as your heat source. I like using a large stockpot with a steamer insert that I can just pull out and dump the cooked ingredients on a large table. Bear in mind, that you’ll need a lot of water for this boil. I’ve prepared boils in my kitchen and outside on a propane burner. The latter works best, both at heating the large amounts of water and also for keeping your kitchen cool in the summer. I highly recommend purchasing a propane burner cooker if that’s an option for you. They are also great for deep frying, such as a Fish Fry!

The Main Event – The Shrimp Boil

Shrimp Boil

I enjoyed my first Shrimp Boil at my mother-in-law’s house one summer at a family gathering, when she dumped pots of scrumptious seafood right out onto a patio table lined with newspapers. It was awe-inspiring! A dinner I will never forget! This recipe is for extra-large, jumbo-sized shrimp (and lots of it), individual corn on the cob, small red potatoes, bites of kielbasa, and some green olives thrown in for good measure! Boiled in a spicy seasoned broth. Yum!

Check out this recipe

A Few Sides

Of course, you’ll want to include a few side dishes to go with your shrimp boil. Here are some of our favorites.

Hush Puppies

Hush Puppies – Deep fried and lightly seasoned with garlic and onion. The perfect pops of bread to go with your shrimp dinner!

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Fried Okra Bites

I'm not sure if this is very authentic or not, but I think fried okra goes great with a Shrimp Boil. This way you'll have some green veggies mixed in to the menu! Or serve it as an appetizer while everyone waits for the dinner to be served.

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Cabbage Bacon Salad

Cabbage Bacon Salad – Again, this probably isn't very traditional, and I wouldn't suggest serving this salad if you're planning to dump your food on a table. But if you're serving this dinner inside, go ahead and add this slaw to your dinner menu. It's quite tasty and goes well with the other dishes.

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Who’s Hungry for Dessert?

Key Lime Pie

If you're looking for a nice, cool dessert to serve after everyone's stuffed themselves on shrimp, you might try this frozen Key Lime Pie. It's light, cool, and refreshing. Perfect for a summer evening.

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Frozen Strawberry Pie

Or maybe a Frozen Strawberry Pie. It's is a perfect dessert to enjoy on a hot summer evening. Lightly sweetened strawberries smothered in whipped topping and encased in a buttery graham cracker crust. Yum!

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And a Refreshing Drink for the Evening

Be sure to provide icy cold drinks at your shrimp boil. Consider lemonade, tea, beer, or sangria.

Red Wine Sangria

Try this refreshing Red Wine Sangria to serve with your shrimp boil. It's soaked in Dark Red Cherries, Limes, and Lemons, then topped off with ginger ale over ice. So good!

Check out this recipe

No matter what you end up serving at your Summer Shrimp Boil, I’m sure it will be delightful. The main thing is to enjoy yourself, the food, and the company! Cheers!