What’s a fish boil?

We have a low country boil down here…crawdads, shrimp, corn on the cob, red taters, smoked sausage. When it’s done you just drain the water, cover the entire table with newspaper, and pour entire contents on the table. Everyone sits around and just picks through the contents. Zatarains crab boil is what everything is boiled in…no better eating in the South!

The biggest issue I have with Georgia boils is the selections available for the sausage. Maybe y'all got better options in South Georgia but all the local Georgia sausage up here ain't nothing to write home about. Generally bland tasting and fatty. Fine on a biscuit for the younguns but not so much for the grown folks that like heat.

I'm still looking for that unicorn Georgia rooster sausage that Jimmy made famous.

I have had Low country boil , I have an aunt and uncle in Savannah.

Fish boil , we have new paper articles from back in 1880 -1890 that my Great great grandfather was feeding his timber crews on fish boil so we have been doing it a while.
He was a Danish immigrant in 1860.

the standard for most pots is a speed queen washing machine tub with a ss patch welded in the bottom and 2 SS baskets , I am sure it started with big cast iron pots the type you would hang on a tripod for hog scalding or making head cheese.
a turkey fry pot works fine for about 8-10 people
I actually have used my big 30 liter temale steamer the last few times it works well.

it is fish typically whitefish or lake trout
white onions
red potatoes

traditional is wood fire I worked those when I was a kid but most of the time we are running LP now unless they are doing a show for the tourists just because clean up is so much easier.

fish is chunked

the water is salted , that is basically the only seasoning and it has something in common with the salt potatoes served in mines in PA and WV in the same late 1800s early 1900s

you can serve in shifts and just keep doing boil after boil just adding enough fresh water to fill the pot again.

when I worked boils with my grandpa when I was about 8-12 they were all wood fired we would run 5 pots , 4 boil and one to keep making hot water to replenish the other pots
there was a 3-4 quart sauce pan mounted on a section of broom handle so it was easy to dip and carry water

potatoes go in first depend on size but 8-12 minutes depending on size , then add onions 8 minutes
the fish goes in fish depends on size 7-8 minutes on white fish , big lake trout might take 12-14 minutes you have to watch that and test until you nail down the time for your fish size

all times are started when it returns to a boil so the intensity of your fire matters.

that 10 pounder we did last time was 14 minutes and couple pieces could have gone another minute.
if you have thick fish don't cut them too long.

in a traditional wood fired boil about 3/4 to a cup of #2 is put in a jar or can.
We used to use a pint jar with a handle on it when working with grandpa , you walked quickly past tossing the fuel in the fire , and as we sometimes have to point out , retaining the jar in hand. you get a fire ball the pot boils over rapidly carrying the excess oil off the top
then a rod is slid in and 2 men lift the baskets from the pot and carry them to the serving line.

the goal is cooked through fish that comes off the bone easily but doesn't fall apart while serving.

a traditional plate is ,
potatoes 2-3 , onions 2-3 , 2 pieces of fish , 2 slices of rye bread and smother any and all of that in melted butter , laddeled on from a crock pot or pan kept warm , coleslaw as a side , and cheery pie for desert.

salt , pepper and butter are really the only seasonings around.

you have to understand this is a Scandinavian meal and strong spice isn't really a thing.

If catfish were edible we'd never have to buy meat again. But just can't make it palatable.

[quote=GREENCOUNTYPETE]

it is fish typically whitefish or lake trout
white onions
red potatoes

Thanks! Sounds bland but good, lol!

What are cowboy fries?

I won't eat a bottom feeder like catfish might taste good but not a healthy meat to eat.

I won't eat a bottom feeder like catfish might taste good but not a healthy meat to eat.

^ Well do some research on eating cats. Our fish biologist here will tell you they won't eat them. You eat at your own risk and we have many fresh water river streams that actually start here in this state and start from clean snow melt and fresh clean water.

Not an old wise tale at all have the entire fish tested in your area to see if healthy or not.

Not all cats are full of toxic chemicals, but a huge population is.

… that’s because of how long they live compared to scaled fish

.. the old ones have absorbed toxins over time

… have to teach y’all yanks everything lol