Seafood Market Tips for Cooking Shellfish and Fresh Fish

Fresh fish and seafood aren’t just healthy and good for you – they’re a delicious treat, especially if you can get it fresh caught. That can be tricky unless you live on the pier and know how to find the freshest fish and seafood – or it used to be. Today, thanks to the Internet, anyone can order seafood online and have it shipped direct to their front door within 24 hours. You don’t need to live next door to a seafood market when you can order up a seafood delivery anytime you want.

Of course, many favorite seafood recipes are loaded with calories, cholesterol and other unhealthy things. If you’re used to baked stuffed lobster and lazy lobster pie, deep-friend fish and chips and breaded baked fish, you’re missing out on some of the most delectable ways of preparing fresh fish and seafood. These favorite seafood market tips can give your recipe repertoire a boost and tease your family’s palate with some of the most flavorful, healthful seafood recipes available.

Keep Flavors Simple

Whether you’re cooking diver scallops or fresh halibut, the secret to delicious seafood is to keep the flavors simple. Most fresh white fish – especially ocean fish – have naturally sweet, delicate flesh that flakes easily and cooks quickly. Heavy sauces, breading and betters overwhelm the flavor instead of letting it shine. Instead of heavy breading, try a light dusting of semolina flour or corn meal, and pass up the heavy butter sauces in favor of citrus reductions or a splash of white wine.

Keep Cooking Times Short

Most fresh fish and seafood tastes best when it is just cooked through. The best way to cook diver scallops, fresh halibut cheeks and even specialty seafood like conch meat is to sear it quickly over high heat. Delicate white fish overcooks easily, and becomes dry and unpalatable.

…Or Cook It Longer

On the other hand, while mussels and other seafood can get tough and chewy if you overcook it, cooking it longer can make it tender again. If you’re cooking conch meat, for example, you can either pound it thin and fry it up quickly, or cut it into bite size pieces and simmer it in broth or chowder for at least an hour.

Try It Raw

A favorite way to “cook” seafood is with citrus juices or other acids. Ceviche is a Latin style of preparing fresh seafood like diver scallops, fresh halibut, conch meat and bay scallops. Lime is a favored citrus for preparing ceviche, though some recipes call for lemon, grapefruit or even tangerine. Add chopped peppers, onions and mango for a tasty Caribbean or South of the Border treat.

If you’re looking for a taste of spring to liven up your family’s dinner table or your next dinner party, visit an online seafood market and check out the fresh fish and seafood available for delivery. Even your pickiest eaters will love it.