SPICY SHRIMP BOIL WITH LEMON BUTTER

Spicy Shrimp Boil With Lemon Butter image

Provided by Melissa Clark

Time 20m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 large onion, halved
1 head garlic, sliced in half crosswise to expose the cloves
1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3/4 stick)
1 lemon, halved
1 tablespoon minced shallot (optional)
1 tablespoon Tabasco or Crystal hot sauce, plus more as needed
2 pounds large shell-on shrimp
Crusty bread, for serving

Steps:

Bring 6 cups water with the onion, garlic, Old Bay, peppercorns, salt and cayenne to a boil in a large pot. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
Meanwhile in a small pot, melt the butter. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into the pot. Stir in shallot, if using, and season butter to taste with hot sauce and salt. Set aside for serving.
Squeeze juice from the other half the lemon into the large pot, then toss in squeezed lemon half. Stir in 1 tablespoon hot sauce and shrimp. Bring just to a simmer (not a boil), then lower the heat so the mixture continues to simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, until shrimp are bright pink and cooked through.
Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer shrimp to a large serving bowl or platter. Taste shrimp broth and add more salt and hot sauce if necessary.
Strain shrimp broth into serving bowls. Divide melted butter into small bowls, one per guest.
To serve, give each guest a bowl of spicy shrimp broth and a small bowl filled with seasoned butter for dipping. Guests should peel shrimp and dunk in broth, butter or both. Serve with bread on the side and plenty of napkins, and a bowl for the shrimp shells.