Five Reasons to Buy from a Fresh Seafood Market

Are you looking for great food additions to your menu? Do you crave exotic tastes and flavors? Are you trying to add healthy new foods to your diet? Seafood is both delicious and nutritious. Studies show that people who eat fish or seafood – especially fatty fish like king salmon or albacore tuna – cut their risks of many major illnesses significantly. But don’t visit your local seafood market just because it’s good for your health. Here are five delicious reasons to put the seafood market on your list of must-visit shops when you do your weekly grocery shopping.

Dungeness Crabs

Crab is high in protein, but also high in cholesterol. If you can’t get enough of the sweet, delicate flavor of crab, though, you can indulge more often when you buy Dungeness crab. Dungeness crab is lower in calories, fat and cholesterol than most other shellfish, but still has a smooth, sweet, almost buttery flavor. Buy live Dungeness crab for the freshest flavor and most tender meat.

King Salmon

Fresh king salmon is one of the most forgiving of all sea fish. Its high fat content makes it tolerant of overcooking, so it’s perfect for broiling, frying, baking, smoking and grilling. The fat in salmon is of the healthy type that’s packed with omega-3 fatty acid, making it just as good for you as it is tasty. You can buy king salmon frozen, but if you want to enjoy it as sushi or sashimi, look for a seafood market that has fresh king salmon for sale. For a real treat, try smoked salmon, or smoke it yourself on your home grill.

Diver Scallops

Sweet, tender and easy to cook, diver scallops are nearly the perfect food for hot summer days. Why should you buy diver scallops as opposed to dredged scallops? In a nutshell, they’re better. Divers tend to hand-pick the most mature scallops, so you’re getting the cream of the crop. On top of that, divers don’t indiscriminately scoop up all sorts of other shellfish and sea creatures when they’re harvesting diver scallops.

Swordfish Steaks

Swordfish is one of the “meatiest” of all fish. Its steak-like texture and mild flavor make it a seafood favorite even with people who don’t particularly like seafood. Swordfish steaks are a low-fat, low-calorie protein choice that’s high in omega-3 and potassium. You can buy swordfish steaks, fillets or kabobs, and bake, broil, grill or pan-fry swordfish for a delicious alternative to meat.

Albacore Tuna

Albacore is the premium tuna most sought by consumers, and with good reason. Fresh albacore is firm-fleshed, succulent and milder in flavor than other types of wild-caught tuna. Try tuna ceviche for a delicious change-of-pace from typical seafood entrées.

In addition to fresh fish in season, a good seafood market will also offer a variety of frozen fish, smoked seafood and condiments to add to your seafood recipes. Step outside your typical menu and enjoy fresh fish from your local market or an online seafood market this week.

Time to Hit the Seafood Market – Simple Recipes for Healthy Meals

If there’s one thing that says spring loud and clear for foodies, it’s the sudden abundance of fresh seafood flooding the local seafood market. The early spring months bring live Dungeness crab, fresh king salmon, diver scallops and swordfish steaks, among other delectable seafood treats. Just thinking about the bounty of fresh treasures from the sea is enough to make your mouth water. If you’re lucky enough to live near a seafood market, this is the time to start making regular visits. If you live inland, you can still enjoy the ocean’s bounty. Thanks to the Internet, anyone can buy swordfish steaks, fresh king salmon, albacore tuna and a wealth of other seafood without ever leaving their living rooms.

When fresh seafood season rolls around, it’s always nice to have a few new recipes to try out. These are a few favorite seafood delights to grace your spring table.

Tipsy Dungeness Crab in Wine Garlic Sauce

Buy Dungeness crab at your local seafood market if possible, or order live whole Dungeness crab from an online seafood market that ships nationwide. Add 4-5 cloves of chopped garlic to 2 cups of Chardonnay in the bottom of a steamer pot. Bring to a simmer. Place 2 live crabs on a steamer rack in the pot and let steam above the wine and garlic for about 8 minutes per average pound – that is, if the crabs are about 2 pounds each, steam them for 8 minutes. Chill the crabs quickly in ice water. Crack and clean them. Serve with melted butter whisked with a few tablespoons of the pot liquor from the crab steaming.

Grilled Diver Scallops on Rosemary Skewers

Mix a teaspoon of finely minced rosemary with olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour over a dozen diver scallops and turn to coat on all side. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Cut 8 12-inch rosemary sprigs. Pick the leaves off six inches of each sprig. Soak the rosemary sprigs in water for 20 minutes. Hold two rosemary sprigs together and thread 3 scallops onto them. Repeat with remaining sprigs and scallops. Grill over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side.

Seared Swordfish Steaks

Coat two swordfish steaks (about 1 pound) with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook the swordfish steaks for 3 minutes on one side. Turn them over and add 1/4 cup of dry white wine to the pan. Cook for three more minutes. Serve over orzo pilaf.

Looking for more fresh ideas with seafood? Ask for recipes at your local seafood market, or check out recipes at your favorite online seafood market.

Five Ways to Cook Fresh Albacore

It’s almost that time of year again, when fresh albacore is plentifully available at your local seafood market and you can enjoy the succulent, juicy flavor that you’ll never get from frozen albacore tuna from your grocer’s freezer. Albacore tuna is generally regarded as the steak of tuna – the highest quality and most flavorful of all varieties. While yellowfin tuna is more available, many people prefer the milder tuna flavor and firm, meaty texture of albacore above all others.

Buying Fresh Albacore

There are a few signs to look for when buying fresh albacore on the dock or in a seafood market. If you’re looking at whole tuna, the eyes should be clear and the skin should not be slimy. The color should be silvery. Reject fish with a dull gray color. If the fish has already been cut into steaks or fillets, look for clean, white meat without bruises, discolorations or dents. Expect a mild fishy odor that is not so strong as to be unpleasant.

If you buy albacore tuna online, you’ll have to trust the seafood market from which you are buying. Look for a market that offers a variety of fresh seafood, including fresh swordfish, live Dungeness crab and fresh king salmon, as well as other Pacific fish and seafood. Always check the site’s shipping policies and research its reputation online before placing your order.

Five Ways to Enjoy Fresh Albacore

Albacore tuna is a versatile fish that can be prepared in many different ways. Try these five to get you started.

Sauté: Seared Tuna with Salsa

Rinse tuna steaks with clear water. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper, then rub with minced garlic. Lightly baste both sides with olive oil. Sear on both sides in a sauté pan, cooking for about one minute on each side. Mix 1/4 cup of sake with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Add to the pan and remove it from the heat. Turn fish frequently as it cools. Top with salsa made with tomatoes, green onion, cilantro, lemon juice and soy sauce.

Grill: Charbroiled Albacore Tuna with Red Pepper Sauce

Combine roasted red bell pepper, garlic, chipotle pepper, cumin seed, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar in a food processor and process till smooth. Add a cup of extra virgin olive oil slowly to emulsify. Mix in rosemary and parsley. Coat fresh albacore steaks with half the mixture and marinate for 30 minutes. Grill the marinated tuna steaks over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side, basting with reserved sauce, and serve with the remaining sauce on the side for dipping.

Poach: Citrus Basted Albacore Tuna Fillets

Heat 1 cup of olive oil over low heat. Add the rind of one grapefruit and continue heating for about 3 minutes to allow the grapefruit essence to infuse the oil. Immerse the tuna fillets in the oil, cooking them to the desired doneness.

Bake: Lemon-Dill Tuna Steaks

Pat albacore tuna steaks dry with paper towels. Brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place steaks in a baking dish. Place a sprig of dill and several lemon slices on top of each steak. Cover and bake at 400 F. for 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Ceviche: Fresh Albacore Apple Ceviche

Cut sashimi grade fresh albacore tuna into 1/2-inch cubes. Toss with the juice of three limes and a tablespoon of chopped, seeded jalapeno pepper (you can substitute habanero or another hot pepper variety if you like). Add 1/2 red onion, very thinly sliced. Cover and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes. Peel an apple and shave the flesh into the ceviche immediately before serving. Serve with cilantro, tortilla and cold beer.

What to Know When You Buy Swordfish Steaks (And a Bonus Recipe)

Fresh swordfish is one of the better choices for lean protein. Low in calories and fat, swordfish steaks provide about 22 g of protein and clock in at just about 150 calories for a 4 oz. serving, grilled with no sauce. When you buy swordfish steaks, you’re buying one of the highest quality sources of lean protein and healthy omega 3 fatty acids that you can get. And while you can buy frozen swordfish in your grocer’s freezer, you won’t understand just how incredibly delicious and satisfying fresh swordfish can be unless you live near a seafood market that offers swordfish for sale. If you live nowhere near the ocean, though, don’t despair. You can still buy swordfish steaks from a seafood market online and enjoy the tasty, healthy treat in its fullest flush of flavor.

Fresh Swordfish Steaks: Nutrition Information

Grilled swordfish steaks are a good source of protein – 4 ounces provides as much as 30% of your recommended daily intake of protein – and vitamin A. Swordfish is low in fat and a good source of calcium, vitamin C and iron. It is also relatively high in sodium and cholesterol, something to keep in mind if your diet restricts those.

How to Tell If Swordfish Steaks Are Fresh

When you buy swordfish steaks in the store, you can look for certain telltale signs that the fish is fresh. When you buy swordfish steaks online, on the other hand, you have to depend on the seafood market to deal fairly and honestly with you. Always buy fresh seafood from markets that ship fresh fish in insulated coolers, packed with ice or insulated gel packs to keep the temperature in the right range to preserve freshness. When your swordfish arrives, examine the meat carefully. It may be anywhere from white/ivory in color to pink/orange, depending on the variety of the meat. The raw swordfish steaks should show a clear whorl pattern, and the meat should be firm with no dull or discolored skin. If you’re planning to grill them, buy swordfish steaks that are at least 1 ¼ inches thick.

The Best Ways to Cook Fresh Swordfish

Swordfish is best cooked and served simply. You can bake, broil, grill, smoke or sauté it, as long as you don’t overcook it. One of our favorite ways to enjoy swordfish is grilled with lime, sage and rosemary. Simply combine lime zest, garlic, sage, rosemary, lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Lay the swordfish steaks in a 13 x 9 x 2 ½ inch baking pan and pour the marinade over them. Let them marinate for about 15 to 20 minutes. Grill the swordfish steaks over hot coals for about 4 minutes on each side. Serve with rice pilaf and a tomato and cucumber salad.

When you buy swordfish steaks online, especially fresh swordfish, always arrange to have them shipped for delivery on the day you intend to cook them. If you can’t cook them the same day, wrap each steak separately and freeze immediately.