Here in the upper Midwest – far from the ocean – eating fresh lobster, crab or other salt-water seafood can feel like a luxury. And what makes for a great party? Gathering family and friends to indulge in something luxurious together. Today, we’re sharing ideas for a backyard seafood boil, with tips from EatingWell on keeping costs down while creating an exciting party experience.
A seafood boil is a great backyard summer party for a few reasons. First, it’s an easy way to feed a crowd. All of the food cooks together in a big pot, and guests serve themselves as they come and go. Second, a seafood boil can be messy, so keeping it outside makes cleanup much easier. Finally, introducing guests to a new kind of cuisine and way of eating will make your party one to remember.
Decide on a Menu
Will you throw a lobster boil, a low-country boil, a crawfish boil or something else? Lobster boils are pretty self-explanatory, but you may not be as familiar with the other options. Low-country boils generally involve cooking shrimp, potatoes, ears of corn, green beans and sausage together in a bit pot. Crawfish boils are similar, swapping out crawfish for shrimp. However, you can customize each option to make it your own, serving vegetables, meats and sides that are in season or accessible.
Source the Seafood
After you decide on a menu, look online for seafood sources. For the freshest seafood, you can usually opt to have lobster (from Maine) or crawfish (from Louisiana) flown in on the day of the party. This can carry a steep cost, which is something to consider when making your party budget.
Buy (or Rent!) the Necessary Supplies
You’ll need:
- A large stock pot or turkey fryer kit (Broadway rents both!)
- A disposable or easy-to-clean table cover, such as Kwik Covers
- Large bowls for shells and peels
- Napkins or bibs
- Lemon wedges and melted butter for serving
Keep Costs Down
As we stated above, flying in fresh seafood can get expensive. To keep the cost of the party down, consider asking guests to bring side dishes or drinks, or even to help pay for the seafood. With such a unique and memorable party experience, we’d guess that guests will be happy to chip in.
And, of course, renting party supplies instead of buying new is always a good way to save money and throw a more sustainable party!
