Steam or Boil ?

[BIGGLOPEZ]

No meat for the Lopez Family today as it's Ash Wed.... We have lobster tails, jumbo shrimp, crab legs, going to get corn on the cob, red potatoes, onions, lemons, and want to make a seafood platter for my wife and I. I have never made this and find a ton of recipes on line so I figured I would ask the Pros on here for some help. We have Old Bay and some Creole seasoning I would like to use any Help is greatly appreciated Thanks Peeps...

I have a large menudo pot and a large steamer for tamales so either way can be done...

[chisoxjim]

nice sounding spread.

Id steam em. boiling tends to waterlog the delicate crab meat, etc.

Id toss some kilbasa and maybe some halved heads of garlic to the party.

[Wahoo95]

Boil some water, add Old Bay to the water, add seafood and sprinkle liberally with more Old Bay then steam till done which won't take long.
Boiling gives best flavor to me if you really like the taste of the seasoning but waterlogs the food.

[BIGGLOPEZ]

Sorry I didn't list garlic but that is a component as well. Steamed it is, I wish I could add the sausage. Next time It will have sausage for sure... Thanks peeps... Gonna be good... Pics to come stay posted...

[HawgHeaven]

You have some good makings for Frogmore Stew... just leave oot the sausage. Give it a shot...

[Bassman]

I can't give you any insight on boiling/steaming but sure wish I was there
to help you eat some of that! Whichever way you go, don't forget the pictures.

[dsgarner06]

A few methods that might work...

1) Personally, I'd grill the seafood and impart some good grill flavoring. Coat them in some oil and the old bay/creole and grill them until they are done (they'll turn opaque and have a little give to them when pressed on the meat). The potatoes/corn/onions could be done a variety of ways and added to the seafood once it comes off of the grill.

2) Steam them over a pot of boiling water with the old bay and creole seasoning in it. Boiling will give them a mushy texture, but it will make them pretty flavorful. If the weather is bad and I can't fire up the grill, this is what I would do.

3) If you have some crab boil (like zatarains), do everything in a boil. I'd start the potatoes first, then add the corn after the potatoes get to a par-boil stage. I'd then add the seafood and lemon. I'd probably sautee' the onions rather than boiling them... maybe with the lemons if you didn't want it in the water.

[Bearcarver]

I can't give you any insight on boiling/steaming but sure wish I was there
to help you eat some of that! Whichever way you go, don't forget the pictures.

Exactly what Keith said !!!
Shame we can't both get there for that Dinner.
I think I'd enjoy it in AZ, but there's no way I'd go to CO, after seeing that movie last week!!!


Bear

[BIGGLOPEZ]

Well I made a boil out of it after some thought. started with 2 gallons of water in a large stock pot outside. Added 4 tablespoons of Old Bay seasoning 6 cloves of minced garlic, 3 tablespoons of salt a couple beers. Got it up to a nice boil, then added the red potatoes ( about 12) and 1/4'ed large red onion. Let it boil for 7 min then added 12 ears of corn. Let it boil for 7 more minutes then added the shrimp and crab legs and let it boil for another 5 min and it turned out Awesome... Sorry about the pics my camera took a dump yesterday so I am using my phone... As always thanks for looking... I will be making this again...

[Hoser]

But.....but......what happened to the lobster!?

[blues_n_cues]

But.....but......what happened to the lobster!?

hopefully he didn't boil that.

[curious aardvark]

I'd have baked the potatoes - or dispensed with them entirely in favour of some fresh bread. Don't really like boiled potatos.

But the rest looks spot on

I'm presuming there was butter involved after draining ?

[blues_n_cues]

I'd have baked the potatoes - or dispensed with them entirely in favour of some fresh bread. Don't really like boiled potatos.

But the rest looks spot on

I'm presuming there was butter involved after draining ?

damn foreigners.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seafood_boil

for Louisiana style fresh French bread comes with it.

[BIGGLOPEZ]

But.....but......what happened to the lobster!?

Those are going on the grill Friday...

[BIGGLOPEZ]

I'd have baked the potatoes - or dispensed with them entirely in favour of some fresh bread. Don't really like boiled potatos.

But the rest looks spot on

I'm presuming there was butter involved after draining ?

Yes I made a nice garlic butter for dipping the crab and shrimp... the rest was awesome Thanks.