Cooking with seafood can be a great deal of fun, isn't very difficult, and gives many meals that are high in nutritional value and low in calories. There are many types of seafood you can use as the base of your meal, such as crab, shrimp, and scallops. Use some of the ideas in this article, and you'll add many tasty dinners to your repertoire.
There are so many choices when it comes to picking out a seafood recipe that is appealing. The best thing to remember is that you can go to any search engine and simply enter the phrase "Seafood Recipe" and you will find a massive amount of sites that have some really great recipes.
Now traditional clambake recipes and lobster recipes are good, but who has the time for the clambake or the money for lobster? As a working wife and mother, time is of the essence and if I cannot get dinner on the table in a reasonable amount of time, it's not worth doing, but I have to be able to please my family in the process.
One thing I am terrible at is measuring. I like to use a few favorite ingredients in any seafood recipes and adapt it to a healthier tastier way of cooking. And, the best part of cooking seafood is you can use whatever means you have available, whether it be grilling, sauting or broiling.
Let's consider shrimp, for example... a pound of 26 - 35 count shrimp on sale should cost you about $8.00 and what a treat your whole family will love! Peel and de-vein your shrimp using a small paring knife fed through the back of the shrimp from the top to the tail (knife facing away from shrimp body and cutting through the shell) making it easy to open up the shell so your shrimp will pop right out! And by purchasing the already frozen, peeled and de-veined version you can save even more time.
The combination of spices and condiments should start with a teaspoon each of butter and extra virgin olive oil. Add a clove of garlic, or if a clove is not available, a teaspoon of chopped garlic. Half an onion, finely chopped, a sprig of parsley, and salt and pepper to taste complete the seasoning preparations. You may find it more convenient to prepare these seasonings in advance so that when you're ready to actually begin cooking, you can add them with a minimum of fuss and your meal will be ready within about twenty minutes.
The shrimp should be served on a bed of wild rice cooked with chicken broth. Asparagus and tender baby portabella mushrooms, cooked together on the stove or over the grill with salt to taste and a dash of extra virgin olive oil, make an excellent side dish. These items combine to make a delicious dinner that is low in calories and quickly prepared (in no more than 45 minutes). Cleaning up shouldn't be a problem either.
Once you start using different seafood items in your cooking, it will slowly become a normal practice. One of the benefits of cooking with seafood is how healthy it can be. Especially when dealing with fresh seafood from one of the eastern seaboard towns or companies that ship overnight to the continental US. There is also an abundance of seafood recipes available online. If necessary you can also visit your local bookstore to get some great recipe books that focus specifically on seafood.
When you are planning a family get together, definitely consider using a seafood recipe to make the occasion memorable. Most people when presented with a fresh seafood meal think that this is a special treat or a rare occasion.