Rev 0.12; last revised: 13-Jul-07
One of my favorite crab/seafood boil solutions is made by a company called, "Zatarain's" (pronounced ZAT-uh-rans). It's a packet of spices packaged in such a way that you just throw the "baggie" into the water in which you're boiling your seafood. Trust me, it makes a wonderful tasting brew.
Unfortunately, I all too often find myself needing to use some...but am unable to find it. So, I tasted their elixir and over time made my own.
This amount of "boil" works well for about 4-5 pounds of most any kind of shellfish.
Combine dry ingredients. Place in a square of muslin or cheesecloth and tie securely with string, like a large sachet d'épices.
Add the salt, cayenne (or hot sauce), and lemon directly to the water to taste. Bring to a boil.
When water is boiling, add the bag and boil for several minutes, until the boiling liquid is tinted and seasoned. Add vegetables and/or shellfish and cook until done, depending on what you're using.
Boil crabs or crab-legs vigorously for 5-minutes, crawfish for 2-minutes, and shrimp for 1-minute. Turn heat off and allow seafood to remain in water for 15 to 20 minutes after boiling.
Peel and eat! Enjoy!