seafood boil
Shellfish pot feast
A seafood boil is a communal meal where shellfish and other seafood—typically shrimp, crab, crawfish, or lobster—are boiled with corn, potatoes, and spices, then dumped onto a newspaper-covered table for everyone to eat with their hands.
The tradition is especially associated with the Gulf Coast and Louisiana: We're having a seafood boil for the Fourth of July.
Also called a low country boil or crawfish boil depending on region and main ingredient.
Small freshwater lobster relative
- crabPincer-bearing shellfish
- shrimpSmall edible crustacean
- lobsterLarge marine shellfish
- musselsEdible marine bivalves
clams · corn · potatoes · andouille · sausage · garlic · onions · lemon
Having strong heat
- garlickyStrongly flavored with bulb
- butteryRich like a spread
- brinyStrongly of salt
- seasonedFlavored or battle-tested
zesty · savory · peppery · tangy · Old Bay · citrusy · herbal · smoky
Outdoor seaside shellfish meal
- cookoutOutdoor meal over flames
- crab feastCommunal shellfish dinner
- potluckCommunal meal, shared contributions
- backyardOutdoor space behind home
picnic · reunion · get-together · celebration · communal · outdoor · summertime · party
Vessel for cooking
- steamerVapor-powered vessel
- propane burnerFuel-fed heating element
- stockpotLarge pot for broths
- colanderKitchen bowl for draining
simmer · broth · seasoning · purge · soak · dump · drain · ice bath
Lacking order or neatness
- hands-onInvolving direct physical engagement
- communalShared by a community
- informalRelaxed, not official
- festiveCheerfully celebratory
lively · loud · boisterous · convivial · finger food · paper towels · bibs · crackers
Gulf Coast pelican state
- LowcountryCoastal Carolina-Georgia cultural zone
- Gulf CoastSouthern U.S. maritime region
- CajunLouisiana's French descendants
- CreoleFused language, stabilized
New Orleans · Maryland · Chesapeake · Southern · coastal · bayou · tidewater · Texas
crawfish
Small freshwater lobster relative
mussels · clams · corn · potatoes · andouille · sausage · garlic · onions · lemon · celery
spicy
Having strong heat
seasoned · zesty · savory · peppery · tangy · Old Bay · citrusy · herbal · smoky · pungent
clambake
Outdoor seaside shellfish meal
- cookoutOutdoor meal over flames
- crab feastCommunal shellfish dinner
- potluckCommunal meal, shared contributions
backyard · picnic · reunion · get-together · celebration · communal · outdoor · summertime · party · friends
pot
Vessel for cooking
- steamerVapor-powered vessel
- propane burnerFuel-fed heating element
- stockpotLarge pot for broths
colander · simmer · broth · seasoning · purge · soak · dump · drain · ice bath · timing
messy
Lacking order or neatness
- hands-onInvolving direct physical engagement
- communalShared by a community
- informalRelaxed, not official
festive · lively · loud · boisterous · convivial · finger food · paper towels · bibs · crackers · mallets
Louisiana
Gulf Coast pelican state
- LowcountryCoastal Carolina-Georgia cultural zone
- Gulf CoastSouthern U.S. maritime region
- CajunLouisiana's French descendants
Creole · New Orleans · Maryland · Chesapeake · Southern · coastal · bayou · tidewater · Texas · Carolina
- seafood boilclambake, steamers, lobster pot, steamer pot, stockpot
- cookoutscookout, barbecue, pig roast, fish fry, oyster roast
- outdoor eventsblock party, concerts, garden party, festivals, parade
- Seafood Cookinggrilling, poaching, steaming, baking, broiling
- Southern Foodfried chicken, collards, biscuits, grits, cornbread
- seafood servicecrab legs, shrimp cocktail, lobster tail, fish fillet, sashimi platter
seafood boilraw bar
Uncooked shellfish counter
sashimi platter · sashimi · oyster bar · ceviche · crudo
boil, boiling, boiler, seaweed, boiled, seafood, seawater, seashell, seafaring