Mardi Gras Shrimp Southern Feast (Printable Version)
A flavorful Southern seafood feast featuring shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and corn with Cajun spices.
# What You Need:
→ Seafood & Sausage
01 - 2 lbs large raw shrimp, shell-on, deveined
02 - 1 lb andouille sausage or smoked sausage, sliced into 1-inch pieces
→ Vegetables
03 - 1.5 lbs baby red potatoes, halved if large
04 - 4 ears corn on the cob, cut into thirds
05 - 1 large yellow onion, quartered
06 - 1 lemon, sliced
→ Boil & Seasonings
07 - 1/2 cup Cajun seasoning
08 - 2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
09 - 4 garlic cloves, smashed
10 - 2 bay leaves
11 - 2 tbsp salt
12 - 1 tsp black peppercorns
13 - 8 cups water
14 - 1 bottle (12 oz) light beer (optional)
→ To Serve
15 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
16 - Fresh parsley, chopped
17 - Lemon wedges
# How-To:
01 - Fill a large stockpot with 8 cups of water and the beer if using. Add Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, salt, peppercorns, garlic, bay leaves, onion, and lemon slices. Bring to a boil over high heat.
02 - Add potatoes to the boiling liquid. Cook for 10–12 minutes until just tender when pierced with a fork.
03 - Add corn pieces and sausage to the pot. Continue cooking for 7–8 minutes.
04 - Add shrimp to the pot. Boil for 2–3 minutes until shrimp turn pink and opaque. Avoid overcooking to prevent rubbery texture.
05 - Drain the boil completely, discarding the broth and aromatics. Arrange shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and corn on a large platter or newspaper-lined table. Drizzle with melted butter, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pot, which means less cleanup and more time with your people
- The spiced broth infuses every single ingredient with that Cajun magic, so even the potatoes taste extraordinary
02 -
- Overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery and sad, so pull them the moment they turn pink
- The seasoning intensity depends on your brand, so taste your broth before adding the shrimp
03 -
- Buy the biggest stockpot you can find, you'll use it more than you think
- Set up an assembly line for draining to avoid spills and accidents