Name: Frogmore stew
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 105 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 700 gm smoked sausages (about 3), such as bratwurst or kielbasa (see note), thinly sliced; 2 dried long red chillies; 6 celery stalks, cut into 5mm pieces; 2 onions, finely chopped; 3 fresh bay leaves; 1 tsp each of black peppercorns and celery seeds; 6 green blue-swimmer crabs (150-200gm each); 600 gm pink-eye potatoes, cut into 2cm pieces; 3 corn cobs, cut into 3cm pieces; 400 gm canned whole tomatoes; 1 kg medium green prawns, peeled, cleaned, shells reserved for prawn broth; Prawn broth; 1 onion, coarsely chopped; 2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped; 125 ml dry white wine; 6 parsley stalks; 3 fresh bay leaves

Frogmore stew

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Frogmore stew.

Serves 8

Prep

15M

Cook

1H 30M

Total

1H 45M

Inspired by a recipe from Lee Bros Southern Cookbook, this is the South Carolina version of the Louisiana crab boil, hailing from the town of the same name. It makes use of the classic Southern ingredients – corn, crab and shrimp.

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

700 gm smoked sausages (about 3), such as bratwurst or kielbasa (see note), thinly sliced

2 dried long red chillies

6 celery stalks, cut into 5mm pieces

2 onions, finely chopped

3 fresh bay leaves

1 tsp each of black peppercorns and celery seeds

6 green blue-swimmer crabs (150-200gm each)

600 gm pink-eye potatoes, cut into 2cm pieces

3 corn cobs, cut into 3cm pieces

400 gm canned whole tomatoes

1 kg medium green prawns, peeled, cleaned, shells reserved for prawn broth

Prawn broth

1 onion, coarsely chopped

2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped

125 ml dry white wine

6 parsley stalks

3 fresh bay leaves

Method

Main

1.For prawn broth, combine all ingredients and reserved prawn shells in a large saucepan with 3 litres of water. Bring to the boil over medium heat, reduce heat to low and simmer until flavours have infused (45-50 minutes). Strain through a fine sieve, discarding shells and herbs, and set aside.

2.Heat oil in a large casserole. Cook sausages in batches, turning occasionally, until golden (3-4 minutes), then transfer to an absorbent paper-lined plate. Add chilli and sauté until toasted, then add celery and onion and cook until just softened (5-6 minutes). Add 500ml prawn broth, stir to combine, bring to the boil and cook until reduced by one quarter (5-6 minutes). Add 1½ litres broth (you may have a little left over), bay leaves, spices and 1 tsp sea salt, cover, bring to the boil, reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1-2 minutes. Add 2 crabs to broth, cook until shells turn pink, transfer with tongs to a colander, then repeat with remaining crabs. Remove top shells from crabs (discarding), quarter each crab and clean (discarding gills), then return to broth. Add potatoes, cook until just tender (10-12 minutes), then add corn, tomatoes and sausage, along with any juices from the sausage. Cover, bring to the boil over high heat, uncover, reduce heat to low and simmer gently until potato is tender. Add prawns and simmer until pink and cooked through (3-4 minutes). Serve immediately.