Cooking doesn't get much easier than this, but it still took me a while to catch on. Being a northerner, I didn't realize that everyone south of Baltimore knows spiced shrimp like New Englanders know maple syrup. I tried spicing up my shrimp and crabs with a spice mix called "Shrimp and Crab Boil." I took the cue from the name and added the spices to boiling water to boil the shellfish. Not until I moved to Maryland crab country did I find that you douse the shellfish with spices and steam them over boiling water. Perhaps someone should market a spice mix called "Shrimp and Crab Steam" for us literalists. The shrimp are cooked with their shells on, so provide lots of napkins for spice-coated hands and beer or lemonade for spice-coated throats.
Recipe information
Yield
Serves 4
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Set an expandable steaming basket (use one with legs) in a pot and add water just until it touches the bottom of the basket. Cover the kettle and bring water to a rolling boil. Add the shrimp and sprinkle with the spices. Steam the shrimp, covered tightly, for 5 minutes or until firm and just cooked through.
Step 2
Serve the shrimp with lemon wedges and a dish of the spices for dipping if desired.
Step 3
Note: If you can't find a prepared spice mix you can make your own. Blend together:
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1/4 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 finely ground bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed
