The Meatwave

Shrimp Boil Skewers

Shrimp Boil Skewers View Recipe

From jambalaya to blackened catfish, getting myself acquainted with Cajun cuisine this past month (by way of the grill) has be fun and a bit exhilarating. That earthy, herbal, and hot Cajun spice mix has yet to do any wrong, making everything it touches all the better. To finish out this lot of recipes, I took some inspiration from a traditional shrimp boil, but instead of a giant pot of simmering shrimp, potatoes, sausage, and corn, I put all the ingredients on a stick and took them to the flames.

Shrimp Boil Skewers

Of course there's a reason a shrimp boil works—boiling is a quicker way to cook potatoes and corn, and those two get additional flavor thanks to the shrimp-y stock they're cooked in. A grilled "shrimp boil" then seems to negate the essence of the dish, and in all honesty, I kind of thought these skewer would fail from the outset.

To start, I had to solve the problem of uneven cooking times—shrimp cook in no time over a hot fire, but potatoes and corn both need more time to be properly done. So to fix this problem, I pre-cooked the spuds and ears in salted boiling water until both were tender.

Shrimp Boil Skewers

Next the potatoes where halved and the corn cut into rounds. These were then skewered, alternating with shrimp and slices of andouille. As I was putting them together, I further thought this was kind of a stupid idea since they not only went against the principles of the shrimp boil, but they were also in opposition to the nature of the skewer because each item pretty much would have to be removed and eaten individually, eliminating the inherent convenience of food on a stick.

Shrimp Boil Skewers

Even with mounting doubts, I ventured forth and gave the skewers what I though would be their saving grave—Cajun seasoning! If that spice mix was able to work magic on so many foods without fail so far, why wouldn't it do the same here? So each skewer got a nice coating of rub before being buttered and taken to the grill.

Shrimp Boil Skewers

Despite reservations on the functionality of the shrimp boil skewers, they did grill up to look quite lovely. Over the high heat, the shrimp browned well in a few minutes, which was enough time to give the corn and potatoes some attractive char.

Shrimp Boil Skewers

So now it was time to serve, and I was pretty sure the awkwardness of eating and loss of intensity in flavor would doom these skewers, but boy was I wrong. Not only did no one complain about inconvenience, among the ribs, jambalaya, and wings that were also present, a few people actually said these skewers were their favorite dish of the day.

It had all the components of a shrimp boil to make it feel familiar, but the grill provided a different take that everyone seemed to enjoy, and once again, Cajun seasoning came to save the day and ensure these were not lacking in flavor at all. So I guess you can have your shrimp boil on a stick and eat it too.

Print Recipe

Shrimp Boil Skewers

  • Yield 6 ro 8 servings
  • Prep 30 Minutes
  • Cook 8 Minutes
  • Total 38 Minutes

Ingredients

  • For the Seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  •  
  • 1 pound small new potatoes
  • 3 small ears of corn
  • 3/4 pound andouille, cut into 1-inch rounds
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • Lemon wedges, for serving
  • Bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes prior to use

Procedure

  1. To make the seasoning: In a small bowl, mix together paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, black pepper, oregano,cumin, white pepper, and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
  2. Place potatoes and corn in a large pot and cover completely with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a bare simmer and cook until potatoes can be pierced with a paring knife with little resistance, about 12 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Halve potatoes. Cut corn into 1 1/2-inch rounds.
  3. Alternately thread potatoes, corn, andouille, and shrimp onto skewers. Sprinkle with seasoning all over to taste.
  4. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over entire surface of coal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Brush skewers with butter. Grill skewers over direct heat until shrimp are opaque and cooked through and corn begins to char, about 4 minutes per side. Remove to platter; serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Adapted from Martha Stewart

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Comments

  1. Chris Grove Good one, smart move on pre-cooking the veggies since the shrimp have such a short cook time. Good post, Josh.

  2. Deb Great post! Great instructions & pictures. Great idea pre-cooking your veggies. I love cooking with stainless steel skewers.Bookmarked

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