• Fast

Ingredients

1. 4 quarts water
2. 6 cloves garlic, peeled
3. 1/2 lemon, cut into 4 wedges
4. 1/4 cup Old Bay Seasoning
5. 10 cloves
6. 2 bay leaves
7. 2 teaspoons salt
8. 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
9. 1 pound boiling potatoes (about 3), quartered
10. 1 onion, cut through the root end into 8 wedges
11. 1 1/2 pounds large shrimp

Directions

1. In a large pot, bring the water, garlic, lemon, Old Bay Seasoning, cloves, bay leaves, salt, and Tabasco sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Add the potatoes and onion and simmer until both are tender, about 15 minutes.
3. Add the shrimp to the pot and bring back to a boil. Simmer until the shrimp are just done, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, put the shrimp, onion, and potatoes onto a large, deep platter or into individual shallow bowls. Ladle some of the liquid over all.

Notes

Old Bay Seasoning

An unlikely combination that nevertheless tastes great with shellfish such as shrimp and crab, Old Bay Seasoning is a hot spice blend of celery salt, mustard, red pepper, black pepper, bay leaves, cloves, allspice, ginger, mace, cardamom, cinnamon, and paprika. It's sold in most supermarkets, but if you prefer to mix your own, start with the list above and combine them in amounts that suit your taste.