Viet Cajun Shrimp Boil

This Viet-Cajun shrimp boil combines classic Cajun flavors with a rich garlic butter sauce and Vietnamese-inspired ingredients like fish sauce and lemongrass. Perfect for a fun summer gathering, this shrimp boil is packed with bold, savory flavor. The Viet Cajun Shrimp boil shrimp are coated in a delicious garlicky butter sauce that’s smoky and buttery.

Why You’ll Love This Viet-Cajun Shrimp Boil Recipe

• Bold Viet-Cajun Flavor: This recipe combines Cajun spices with garlic, butter, lemongrass, and fish sauce.
• Juicy, Flavorful Shrimp: The shrimp soak up all the buttery, spicy broth while staying tender
• Perfect for Gatherings: This seafood boil is fun, interactive, and perfect for family dinners, parties, or summer cookouts.
• Customizable with Your Favorite Seafood: Add crab, crawfish, clams, mussels, or sausage to make it your own.
• Loaded with Comforting Sides: Tender potatoes and sweet corn absorb all the delicious seasoning and pair perfectly with the seafood.

Viet Cajun Shrimp Boil Origin

Viet-Cajun cuisine originated in Houston. After the Vietnam War, Vietnamese immigrants settled along the Gulf Coast and began incorporating Vietnamese ingredients and flavors into traditional Louisiana-style Cajun seafood boils.

Ingredients

• 1 boil bag (seafood boil seasoning bag or spice sachet)
  • Flavor base for the broth
• 2–3 lbs shrimp, peeled or shell-on
  • Protein that soaks up flavors
• 2–3 ears sweet corn, cut into halves or thirds
  • Sweet vegetable that goes well with the savory flavors
• Potatoes, halved (as much as you like)
  • Buttery vegetable that soaks up the flavors
• 1 onion, quartered
  • Adds depth to the broth
• 1–2 oranges, halved
  • Adds a bright citrus aroma
• 1–2 lemons, halved
  • Adds a bright citrus aroma
• Old Bay seasoning
  • Classic seafood blend
• Garlic Sauce:
• 1–2 sticks butter
  • Rich base for the sauce
• 6–7 garlic cloves, minced
  • Fragrant aromatics
• 1 stalk lemongrass, finely minced
  • Adds a bright flavor without it being too citrusy
• 1 tbsp Fish sauce (to taste)
  • Adds umami
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (to taste)
  • Adds the classic cajun flavor
• 1/2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning (to taste)
  • Classic seafood blend
• Chili flakes (to taste)
  • Adds spice

Click on the images for the direct link to the ingredients/tools I used:

Instructions

In a large pot, add water along with the boil bag, oranges, lemons, onion, and a generous sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning.

Bring the pot to a boil, then add the potatoes first and cook for 5–7 minutes, until they just start to soften. Next, add the corn and continue cooking for about 5 minutes. Add the sausage and let it heat through. Finally, add the shrimp and cook just until they turn pink and opaque.

Remove everything from the pot and set it aside. Reserve about ¼ cup of the broth for the sauce.

In a pan, melt butter over medium heat.

Add garlic and lemongrass and sauté until fragrant.

Stir in fish sauce, Cajun seasoning, Old Bay seasoning, and chili flakes.

Pour in the reserved broth and mix until the sauce is rich and slightly emulsified.

Pour the garlic butter sauce over the shrimp boil and toss everything until fully coated and glossy.

Serve hot, family-style, and enjoy immediately.

Viet Cajun Shrimp Boil Cooking Tips

• Do not overcook the shrimp, or it will become rubbery. They cook within 2-4 minutes.
• After cooking, let the shrimp boil sit for about 10 minutes so it can soak up the garlic butter sauce.

Viet Cajun Shrimp Boil Storage Tips

Store leftover Viet Cajun Shrimp boil in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Reheat by gently heating over the stovetop or microwave in increments until heated through.

Ingredient Substitutions

Shrimp –> Crab legs, crawfish, mussels, clams

lemongrass –> lime juice

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