Cook like a New Orleans native, Food, New Orleans, Recipes
April 17, 2013 Patsy R. Brumfield16 Comments
This boiled shrimp recipe is from my Pensacola, Fla., brother-in-law, Tommy Ratchford, and he knows a few things about cooking shrimp. Bar none, this is the best result I have ever tasted.
Patsy R. Brumfield
The Southfacin’ Cook
It’s just right: firm but not overcooked, and very flavorful like shrimp, not a bunch of overt spices. Don’t forget the secret ingredient in the boil: apple cider vinegar. It makes the shrimp easier to peel.
Tommy insists you shouldn’t cook more than 2 pounds of shrimp at a time. If you have more, just start over. I suppose this prevents you from under-cooking some and over-cooking others.
I’ve never tasted a batch from Tommy that wasn’t great. Enjoy!
Header image via flickr user mymoustache and used in accordance with a Creative Commons license.
EQUIPMENT: how to boil shrimp like a New Orleans native (photo via Patsy R. Brumfield/The Southfacin’ Cook) INGREDIENTS LET’S GET STARTED Prepare your water to cook in. Add enough water to your pot to cover your shrimp by about 2 inches. To do this, put your cold shrimp in the pot, pour on the water and measure it. Then pour out the water, put your shrimp into a bowl and re-fill the pot. Into your water pot, squeeze the juice of 2-3 lemons, then drop what’s left of the lemons in too. Add your bag of shrimp/crab boil, salt and vinegar. (The vinegar is the secret ingredient. It makes the shrimp easier to peel.) how to boil shrimp like a New Orleans native (photo via Patsy R. Brumfield/The Southfacin’ Cook) Put your shrimp-boil water pot onto the heat and bring it to a boil. (My brother-in-law likes to boil his shrimp out on his grill, which has a gas eye. It also doesn’t stink up the house.) how to boil shrimp like a New Orleans native (photo via Patsy R. Brumfield/The Southfacin’ Cook) When the water is boiling vigorously, add your 2 pounds of headless shrimp. how to boil shrimp like a New Orleans native (photo via Patsy R. Brumfield/The Southfacin’ Cook) When the water returns to a vigorous boil, your shrimp are done!!!! how to boil shrimp like a New Orleans native (photo via Patsy R. Brumfield/The Southfacin’ Cook) how to boil shrimp like a New Orleans native (photo via Patsy R. Brumfield/The Southfacin’ Cook) Remove shrimp immediately into colander or strainer in the sink and cover with ice immediately. Do not leave shrimp in hot water. They don’t soak up flavor; they just get tough. how to boil shrimp like a New Orleans native (photo via Patsy R. Brumfield/The Southfacin’ Cook) If you want to cook more shrimp, use the same flavored water. Don’t pour it out. Just use a strainer to remove the shrimp and start over with another 2 pounds, until all are cooked.Boiled shrimp
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Awesome! Tastes soooo good 😀 feeling like a champ right now
May 23, 2015 at 3:38 pmReply
Thank You! It seems I was always overcooking before. These were perfect!
June 14, 2015 at 6:31 pmReply
FYI – shrimp, like crawfish, do soak up flavor the longer they soak. Yes, easy to overcook, so DO NOT bring back to boil, remove from heat, let soak 15-20 min, also, add cayenne for an extra kick.
July 5, 2015 at 11:02 pmReply
Bayou Social is correct. You can easily overcook with this method. Add more water and get it to a boil. If you have enough stored heat in a large volume of water the temperature won’t drop so much and the shrimp will be done fast. It works sort of the same way as pasta. Also this depends on the size of the shrimp. Bigger the shrimp the more volume of water you want.
February 19, 2016 at 3:12 pmReply
No New Orleans native I know cooks shrimp this way. First, only 2 Lbs at a time? And headless? Apple Cider Vinegar to peel easier? Cooking them for the correct amount of time helps them peel easier. Take them out of the water an not let them soak? Wow! Never heard this one before. Don’t know any New Orleanian who would consider the smell of boiling seafood as stinking up the house!
September 28, 2016 at 6:04 pmReply
me neither. cray. dead giveaway with it being a “pensacola” recipe
July 29, 2017 at 1:50 pmReply
Sha, what you said and then some. If I ever used this recipe my padna’s would run me out of town. As far as Texas or Pensacola, and never let me come back. Sha, you’re a Trosclair..That says it all right there.Da Boudreaux and da Thibodeaux are shaking their heads right now.
May 10, 2020 at 9:30 pmReply
How do you boil your shrimp? I am from TN living in Shreveport and am always learning a new way to boil shrimp. Would love to know how you cook them. I want the right and no fail way as I am cooking tomorrow (July 7th) for MS family. Thanks for your help!!!
July 6, 2021 at 1:12 pmReply
I am from Metairie ,LA., so I know a thing or two about boiling seafood. But I wanted a tip on boiling just a couple lbs shrimp,(we usually boil 20 or more lbs.) This recipe was amazing!!! perfect
February 25, 2017 at 11:22 amReply
Looks good to me !!
May 26, 2017 at 1:29 pmReply
Hmmm..
There are so many things wrong with this recipe i don’t know where to begin…and I’m 45 years old, a chef, and born and raised in new orleans.
First dead give away is that it’s a Pensacola recipe.
2nd, not more than two pounds at a time? When we boil we do like 40 lbs at a time..that’s just nonsense. This line “To do this, put your cold shrimp in the pot, pour on the water and measure it. Then pour out the water, put your shrimp into a bowl and re-fill the pot.” makes absolutely no sense to me.
Seafood does not soak up flavor while boiling, so many people add ice, or even better is frozen corn. Keep in mind, by adding ice you are diluting. good luck!
ps, add some oranges, red potatoes, lots of bay leaves, garlic…but boil the potatoes until done first along with the garlic b/c they take longer. As far as the water level, fill it the “f” up b/c the more you have, the less impact putting cool shrimp will have on the temp and you can gauge time better. DO NOT OVERCOOK!
July 29, 2017 at 1:38 pmReply
oh, and headless? That’s just malarkey
July 29, 2017 at 1:51 pmReply
another trick is to squeeze lemon juice AFTER they are on the table just before eating. Mushrooms, artichoke, sausage…these are all great things to put in there just keep in mind different cooking times.
July 29, 2017 at 1:56 pmReply
Sorry, That is no where near how us Cajuns from New Orleans do it
May 10, 2020 at 9:09 pmReply
Son doing so right now put my spices and some hot sauce bring it to a boil take it off the heat (180°) add my shrimps 15-20 mins tender and not curled up.
March 15, 2024 at 1:20 pmReply
