Call it what you will: a seafood boil, a lobster boil, a clambake. We partnered up with Allagash Brewing Co. to throw one of our own—and we're sharing how to do it on your own, too.
Weekend projects are better when you get to eat at the end.
To tackle something that's a little bigger than your average Friday or Saturday night dinner, here's what to do:
Deconstruct the morning newspaper and layer it up over your biggest outdoor surface (one you'd consider eating off of, of course). Grab your largest pot, closest friends, and favorite beer, and start layering. Sausage, potatoes, and onions on the bottom, knobby cobs of corn and spritely aromatics on top, all cooked over a flame outside and not anywhere near the kitchen. Tame your lobsters before you add them, along with all other the shellfish you're planning to devour, and don't forget to melt some butter on the side. Little else is better than a full, laughing table, packed with trays of seafood and lit up by dusk.
Watch the video above for step-by-step instructions on how to throw your own seafood boil.
When you're ready to throw one on your own, follow and print the guidelines below, and don't forget to scale up for each person you invite. Happy boiling!
And then fill in the nooks and crannies left with extra bits to eat:
What's in your seafood boil? Tell us in the comments below!
The Belgian-inspired beers from Allagash Brewing Co., from their White and Saison to more experimental ales, were made to complete summer feasts—so we're sharing recipes to serve alongside them.
See what other Food52 readers are saying.