How Do I Choose the Best Seafood Entree?

When choosing a seafood entree, first consider if anyone who will eat it has allergies. Begin narrowing down your possible choices by determining which seafood is available fresh. If you will be feeding a number of people, consider paella. Wine, if you plan to serve any, can also be a good indicator of which seafood entrees you should serve. If you are looking for a dish for a family meal, simply remove the meat from one of the family's favorites and add a seafood substitute.

One of the most important considerations when choosing a seafood entree is to consider who will be eating it. Some people have shellfish allergies, which are often more severe than other types of food allergies. In the case of shellfish allergies, you should avoid items such as shrimp, crab, and squid and perhaps serve fish instead. If it is well known that an individual is allergic to only a particular item, then you can simply avoid serving that.

For the best results, you should consider a seafood entree that entails using items that are available fresh. Both the flavor and texture are likely to be better than when you get frozen items. If the fresh seafood that you want is not available, your next best option is flash-frozen seafood. This method of immediate freezing is supposed to capture maximum flavor and nutrient content.

If the seafood entree needs to serve numerous people and cost is a factor, consider a dish such as paella. There are several benefits in doing so. First, paella allows you to be creative with the items that you include with regard to seafood, spices, and vegetables. Second, it is common for this dish to include other meats too, such as chicken and andouille sausage, which will help to make the dish bulkier. Third, the rice content also makes it hearty while still allowing guests to focus on the seafood flavor.

Some would argue that an occasion with seafood should also be one with wine. If you are planning to serve wine with your entree, you will probably want to make sure the two pair well. Considering what you would like to drink first can help you decide what you should prepare. For example, if you have already purchased a couple bottles of pinot noir, you should consider a colored seafood, such as salmon or lobster. If you have pinot grigio, a good match will be a grilled white seafood entree such as scallops, bass, or both served with a buttery or citrus sauce.

When looking for a good seafood entree for a family meal, you probably prefer something that is not too labor intensive. A good way to approach this is to consider some of your favorite quick dishes and to consider what type of seafood could replace the meat. For example, traditional beef tacos can be converted into fish and shrimp tacos. Scallops or crawfish can easily be added to your favorite pasta recipes.