6 Must-Try Seafood Dishes That Don't Contain Prawns
Prawn cocktail, butterflied garlic prawns and tempura prawns are all delicious dishes, but prawn dishes are so common they're available in most pubs and cafes. So, when you visit a seafood restaurant, why not opt for something new that you don't come across often on restaurant menus? Here are six must-try seafood dishes that don't contain prawns:
Oysters DuPont
This deliciously moreish, salty-sweet dish consists of dressed oysters served on the half shell and topped with feta cheese and succulent white crab meat. The dressing contains fresh garlic and classic Italian herbs, and the oysters are grilled until the cheese begins to brown. This dish can be enjoyed with seasonal greens or a garden salad.
Thai Squid Salad
For this dish, tender squid is tossed in a zesty Thai dressing containing red chillies, fish sauce, coriander and lime juice. The squid is served with fresh salad leaves, carrot ribbons, mint and thinly sliced onion. Enjoy this salad for lunch or add some rustic bread or baby potatoes for a light dinner.
Tempura Soft-Shelled Crab
The crabs used in this dish are selected when they have moulted their old shell and their new shell is still soft, so you can eat the crab whole. The crabs are coated in light tempura batter before being fried for just a couple of minutes. Sweet, juicy and delicious with a chilli dipping sauce, soft-shelled crab is a culinary delight.
Scallop Crudo
This is an Italian dish that's somewhere between ceviche and sashimi. Ceviche requires seafood to be cured in a citrus marinade, but scallop crudo consists of raw scallops that have been sliced and dressed with lemon juice. The scallops aren't left to cure, but the acid in the lemon juice tenderises them to the point where they almost melt in the mouth. This dish is best served with a simple green salad to allow the delicate flavour of the scallops to shine through.
Crab Tart
Crab tart is a hearty dish consisting of white crab meat, potatoes, peas, carrots and onion, which are cooked in a rich fish stock before being ladled into a buttery pastry case. Enjoy this dish with potato wedges and roasted broccoli.
Mediterranean Stuffed Squid
A whole squid is stuffed with herbed wild rice and diced sweet peppers before being baked in a rich tomato sauce, which ensures the squid remains tender. Enjoy this dish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and chewy ciabatta to soak up the sauce.
These are just a few examples of seafood dishes to look out for if you want a change from prawns. Alternatively, you can let your server know what flavours you enjoy, and they'll be happy to recommend a dish from their menu. For more advice, contact a business such as Maisie's Seafood & Steakhouse.