Ingredients

Water
2 lemons, halved, plus more for serving
3 bay leaves
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup crab boil seasoning (recommended: Old Bay)
1/2 bunch thyme, tied together
1 medium onion, quartered
2 serrano chiles, split in 1/2 lengthwise
1 head garlic, halved
1 pound 5 ounces red new potatoes, medium to large, cut in 1/2
3 ears sweet corn, halved

3 pieces smoked sausage, such as andouille or kielbasa, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1
pound 5 ounces)
12 littleneck clams, scrubbed (about 1 pound 4 ounces)
2 pounds jumbo shrimp with heads and tails
Kosher salt

Directions

Fill a huge stockpot, preferably fitted with a
basket insert, with about 4 quarts of water. Keep in mind that when you add the solid
ingredients the water level will rise, so don't fill the pot up more than halfway. Squeeze
the lemons into the water, tossing in the halves too. Add the bay leaves, salt, seasoning,
thyme, onions, chiles and garlic; bring the broth to a boil over medium-high heat and
simmer for 10 minutes. You want a very aromatic broth with plenty of salt and spices.
Taste it; don't be afraid to make it strong so some of the flavor can penetrate and get
absorbed by the potatoes and other ingredients. Adjust seasoning with salt.

Add the potatoes to the pot to give them a head start; simmer for 20 minutes. Now add the
corn and sausage; cook another 5 minutes, making sure everything stays covered with the
liquid. Add the clams and boil for 8 to 10 minutes until they open. Then toss in the

shrimp and shut off the heat. Cover the pot and let the shrimp steep in the flavor for 15
minutes. Drain and spread the shrimp, sausage, clams, corn, potatoes, and onions out on a
newspaper-covered table. Serve with lemons and plenty of napkins. Reserve the broth to
make Shrimp Cocktail Shots.