On The Way To Europe | CRAB BOIL

Crab boil

Before leaving BC we decided to spend a bit of time on Vancouver Island to see some of the province we had neglected to visit over the past 3 years while we were running the deli. We stayed at a great lodge in Ucluelet (He-Tin-Kis) where the owner knew “the crab guy”. 

Four crab in a pail 

She picked up four live crab right off the dock and brought them straight to us in a pail. We quickly packed them in a cooler with ice and stopped to buy side-striped shrimp from another dock on the way back to our home base at Nat’s sister Jackie’s in Errington.

A plan

We had a plan but we needed a few more ingredients. We bought some fresh ears of corn, some new potatoes, kielbasa and herbs & spices. Arriving at Jackie’s around five o’clock, by seven we were sitting down to one of our most memorable meals, a Crab Boil.

Gather some friends

A crab boil usually refers to a spice mix but it also means a social event. Gather some friends, prepare a meal together, sit down and take your time to enjoy the food and the people around you.

CRAB BOIL

2014-09-21 22:10:18

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Ingredients

1. Serves 4 to 6
2. 4 Dungeness crab
3. 1 pound (12 inches) kielbasa cut into 2
4. 1 pound red skin new potatoes
5. 4 ears sweet corn cut into 3
6. 1 pound shrimp, deveined, shell on
7. 1 bunch green onion, cut into 4
8. 15 to 20 cups water
9. 1 head garlic, smashed
10. 2 Tbsp coriander seeds
11. 2 Tbsp dried thyme
12. 2 Tbsp dill
13. 1 Tbsp oregano
14. 2 Tbsp paprika
15. 1 Tbsp black pepper
16. 1 tsp white pepper
17. 1 Tbsp onion powder
18. 4 leaves bay
19. 1/4 cup Kosher salt
20. Hot sauce to taste

Instructions

1. Combine water, garlic, spices, salt and hot sauce in a large stock pot and bring to a boil for 3-5 minutes.
2. While that is steeping, rinse and quickly clean the crab with a brush.
3. Prepare the crab by sticking the point of a knife between their eyes.
4. Using the back of a chef knife and your hand, pry off the top shell, remove the gills and cut the bodies in half.
5. Rinse quickly under cold water and reserve.
6. Add the potatoes first into the simmering stock and cook for 4 minutes or until half cooked.
7. Then in go the kielbasa and corn, bring back to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes.
8. Next is the crab, push down into the stock and cook for 4-5 minutes after returning to a simmer. Last is the shrimp and green onion.
9. Push them down into the simmering stock and then turn off the heat.
10. Let the boil sit for 2-3 minutes or just until the shrimp are cooked through.
11. Drain the mixture into a large colander, discard the stock.
12. Alternatively, remove everything with a slotted spoon.
13. Pile it high on a warm serving tray, pour some cold drinks, roll up your sleeves and get cracking. Melted butter, lemon wedges and steamed rice on the side are nice also.

By Tim Harris

A Cook Not Mad - Food and Travel Blog https://www.acooknotmad.com/