History

Lowcountry boil is a Gullah Geechee one-pot tradition from the coastal Sea Islands south of Savannah. Also called Frogmore stew after a community on St. Helena Island, SC, the dish became the canonical Lowcountry party meal for fishing-fleet feasts and beach gatherings. Variations differ by household, but the four anchors (shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes) hold across the region.

Common allergens: Shellfish

Make it at home

Yield Serves 6Hands-on 20 minTotal 45 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 1.5 kg new red potatoes, halved
  • 6 ears sweet corn, halved
  • 750g smoked andouille or kielbasa, cut in 5cm pieces
  • 2 kg Georgia white shrimp, head-on, shell-on
  • 1 large yellow onion, quartered
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • 8 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 4 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
  • Plenty of water; melted butter and hot sauce to serve

Method

  1. Fill a 12-litre stock pot with water and add the Old Bay, onion, lemon and garlic. Bring to a rolling boil.
  2. Add the potatoes; cook 12 minutes until just tender.
  3. Add the sausage and corn; cook 5 minutes more.
  4. Add the shrimp; cook 3 to 4 minutes until pink. Do not overcook.
  5. Drain the pot. Tip the boil onto a butcher-paper-covered table. Serve with melted butter, hot sauce, lemon wedges and cold beer.

Tip from the editors. Head-on, shell-on shrimp give the boil its flavour. Don't substitute peeled shrimp.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat lowcountry boil (frogmore stew)

Lowcountry boil (Frogmore stew) in Savannah

The Wyld Dock Bar ★ 4.4

islands

Why locals love it: On the Herb River in Thunderbolt past the bridge, accessible by free boat tie-up; locals-only, no tour-bus traffic, raw-bar happy hour.

Tip: Free boat tie-up; arrive by 18:00 on live-music nights to beat the rush.

2740 Livingston Ave, Savannah, GA 31406

Sorry Charlie's Oyster Bar ★ 4.1

Seafood, Oysters$$historic-district

Sorry Charlie's runs an oyster bar in one of Georgia's oldest commercial buildings, overlooking Ellis Square. Raw bar, steam pots, Bamboo Room tiki upstairs.

Signature: Raw oysters, Steam pots

Order: A dozen Sapelo oysters on the half-shell, plus a Lowcountry boil for two.

Tip: Happy hour runs daily 16:00 to 18:00 with discounted oysters.

116 W Congress St, Savannah, GA 31401

Vic's on the River ★ 4.3

Contemporary Southern, Seafood$$$historic-district

Vic's runs in a restored 1859 cotton warehouse on Bay Street, river views from the upstairs dining room. Classic Lowcountry with white-tablecloth service.

Signature: Shrimp and grits, She-crab soup

Order: Shrimp and grits with the Carolina shrimp sauce, plus a she-crab soup to share.

Tip: Ask for an upstairs window seat at reservation time for the Savannah River view.

26 E Bay St, Savannah, GA 31401

More cities are in research. Want lowcountry boil (frogmore stew) covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

Browse all dishes →