Tag-Archive for » Seafood «

21
Dec
Shrimp Appetizer Spread
Brigita

Ingredients:

(20 servings)

* 1 package (225g) cream cheese, softened

* 1/2 cup sour cream

* 1/4 cup mayonnaise

* 3 packages (500 g each) frozen cooked salad shrimp, thawed

* 1 cup seafood cocktail sauce

* 2 cups  shredded mozzarella cheese

* 1 medium green pepper, chopped

* 1 small tomato, chopped

* 3 green onions with tops, sliced

* Assorted crackers

Method:

* In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise until smooth.

* Spread mixture on a round large serving platter. Sprinkle with shrimp. Top with seafood sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, green pepper, tomato and onions. Cover and refrigerate. Serve with crackers.

Category: Appetisers  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
18
Nov
Brucheta Dalmatina
Brigita

Ingredients:

1 french baquette

150 g can of tuna in olive oil

1/2 cup cooked white beans in brine

1/2 cup cooked brown beans in brine

1/2 cup steamed sliced carrots

1/2 cup chopped green olives

1 Lebanese cucumber sliced

1 punnet cherries tomatoes

100 g feta cheese cubed

salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

lemon slices and basil leaves for garnish

Method:

Cut bread into slices and slightly roast in the pan.

Mix together tuna chunks (with oil from the can), beans, carrots and olives into salad.

Assemble on the bread slices sliced cucumbers, top with tuna mix. Put on top tomatoes, feta cubes and season with salt and pepper.

Garnish with lemon slices and basil leaves.

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03
Nov
Goan Fish Curry
Brigita

Ingredients:

3 dried whole red chillies

1 tablespoon cumin

2 teaspoon coriander seeds

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

2 teaspoon ground turmeric

3 garlic cloves

3cm piece ginger

2 tablespoons white vinegar

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 onion, thinly sliced

1 ripe tomato, chopped

1 large green chillies, seeded and sliced thinly

440g can coconut milk

salt to taste

800g fillets flat head, halved

Method:

Using a spice grinder blend chillies, cumin, coriander, mustard seeds and turmeric to a fine powder. In a pestle and mortar crush garlic and ginger to a fine paste. Add spice powder and incorporate well into the ginger paste. Mix in vinegar.In a large deep frying pan heat oil. Add onion and fry until slightly coloured. Add spice paste and fry for 3 minutes until fragrant. Add tomato and chilli and cook for 10 minutes or until tomato breaks down. Add coconut milk, season with salt and then add fish fillets. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes, turn fish over and simmer for remaining 5 minutes or until fish is cooked as desired, this will vary with size of fillet used. Serve with basmati rice

Note: As Goan version might be hot to someone’s taste, make it milder by halving the amount of spices/chillies.

Category: Indian, Mains  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
02
Nov
J’s Prawn Curry
Brigita

Ingredients:

* 4 tbsp sunflower oil

* 1 tsp black mustard seeds

* 400g canned chopped tomatoes

* 500g raw tiger prawns, peeled

* 100ml coconut cream or fresh cream

* 4 tbsp chopped fresh coriander

For the curry paste:

* 1 medium onion, chopped

* 3 garlic cloves, crushed

* 2 green chillies, deseeded and chopped

* 2.5cm fresh ginger, chopped

* 4 tsp paprika

* 1 tsp garam masala

* 1 tsp ground coriander

* 1/2 tsp cumin powder

* 1/2 tsp turmeric powder

* 1/2 tsp salt

* 2 tsp lemon juice

Method:

1. Make the curry paste. Put the ingredients into a food processor with 1 tablespoon of water and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the mustard seeds and cover the pan with a lid. As soon as they begin to pop, uncover and add the prepared curry paste. Fry for 4-5 minutes until it seems to be splitting from the oil, then add 250ml hot water and simmer for a further 3 minutes.

3. Stir in the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until they have broken down in the sauce. Add the prawns and cream and simmer gently for 3-4 minutes, until

the prawns are just firm and pink. Season to taste. Stir in the coriander and serve immediately with naan bread or pooris.

Category: Indian, Mains  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
05
Oct
Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup
Brigita

Ingredients:

(serves 4)

* 1/2 kg peeled and deveined large shrimp

* 1 tablespoon salt-free Thai seasoning

* Cooking spray

* 1 cup refrigerated prechopped tricolor bell pepper

* 2 1/2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

* 1 tablespoon fish sauce

* 400 g can light coconut milk

* 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

* Chopped fresh coriander

Method:

1. Sprinkle shrimp with Thai seasoning; toss well. Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat; coat pan and shrimp with cooking spray. Add shrimp to pan; sauté 2 minutes or until shrimp are almost done. Remove shrimp from pan; set aside. Coat pan with cooking spray; add bell pepper, and sauté 2 minutes.

2. Add chicken broth and fish sauce to bell pepper in pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Stir in coconut milk and reserved shrimp. Cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat; stir in lime juice. Stir in cilantro, if desired.

Category: Asian, Soups, Thai  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
18
Sep
Thai Mock Oysters
Brigita

Ingredients:

(Serves 4-8 as an Appetizer)

* 1 box (uncooked) prawn crackers, OR 1 bag prepared prawn/shrimp crisps/chips

* approx. 3/4 cup oil for frying (such as canola)

* 1 package small round rice wraps, also called “Rice Paper”

* 1 cup baby (or small) shrimp (shell removed), fresh, frozen, or canned

* approx. 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)

* handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped

* 1/3 cup dry roasted unsalted peanuts, ground or roughly chopped

* 1 Tbsp. fish sauce (+ up to 1/2 Tbsp. more to taste)

* squeeze of fresh lime juice (about 1 tsp.), OR substitute fresh lemon juice

* 2-3 cloves garlic (2 large, or 3 small-medium), minced

* 1 tsp. chili sauce OR chili-garlic sauce, OR 1/2 tsp. dried chilli flakes, OR 1/2 tsp. dried cayenne pepper powder (can be omitted if you prefer a mild appetizer)

* pinch of black pepper

Method:

There are 2 ways to cook prawn crackers: If using a microwave: (this is the easier method), simply remove the rather hard, dried crackers from the box, arrange on a plate (don’t pile them on top of each other), and microwave them for 20-30 seconds until they puff up. Make at least 12-15 crackers (or more if you want to sample a few!). If Frying the Crackers: Heat 1/2 to 3/4 cup oil in a small frying pan over medium to high heat. When tiny bubbles begin to form the oil is ready. If you’re unsure about the temperature of the oil, try dipping one of the rice crackers into it. If nothing happens, your oil isn’t hot enough. If the cracker begins to cook and puff up, your oil temperature is perfect. Turn heat down to medium. When oil is hot enough, drop crackers in, 2 or 3 at a time. The crackers look like small, hard coins when you drop them in, but will quickly “open” like flowers into beautiful crackers. Tip: Be sure to remove the crackers as soon as they “open”.

Place cleaned, rinsed and drained shrimp in a mixing bowl.

To the shrimp, add: 1 Tbsp. fish sauce, a squeeze of lime juice (about 1 tsp.), 1 tsp. chili sauce (optional – omit if you prefer it mild), 2-3 minced cloves garlic, and a pinch of black pepper. Stir well. Now add 1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped fresh coriander (cilantro), and a handful of chopped basil.

Mix well to combine, then do a taste-test. If more salt is needed, add 1/2 to 1 Tbsp. more fish sauce. If too salty, add a little more lime juice. If not spicy enough, add more chili sauce.

Pour some hot water into a large bowl (not too hot – you should be able to dip your fingers in it). Now take a rice wrapper and submerge it in the water. Wait 20-30 seconds, or until the “rice paper” has softened and become quite limp. Now remove it from the water, allowing as much water to drip from the wrapper as possible. Spread it flat on a cutting board. Gently slice the rice wrapper in half. Then cut it in half the other way to create 4 small pieces.

Now place these small sections of “rice paper” on the crackers. The rice paper should be quite dry by now. If it’s too sticky to work with, moisten your fingers with a little oil (not water). The rice paper will serve as a kind of “mat” for the shrimp mixture, and will also add to the exquisite taste of this appetizer. Continue in the same way, adding small pieces of rice paper to the crackers until you have 15-20 crackers covered with rice paper. Note: You will soon see why the rice paper is necessary in this recipe. If you try to add the shrimp mixture without it, you’ll find the “wetness” of the shrimp will seem to “burn” a hole right through the cracker!

Now add a little of the shrimp mixture to each cracker (about 1 heaping tsp.). Try to place the mixture on the rice paper, otherwise it will create a hole in the cracker.

As a final touch, add a sprinkling of ground or chopped roasted peanuts on top of the shrimp mixture.

Place the finished appetizer on a serving platter, and pass around.

Note: Excellent paired with wine (try a nice shiraz/syrah) or an ice-cold lager. Makes a superb appetizer to serve at a party, cookout, or family get-together! his beautiful Thai appetizer looks remarkably like oysters. However, the iniital taste (unlike oysters) is crisp and crunchy. Then you’ll get a hit of seafood (shrimp) followed by a wonderful burst of Thai flavors (herbs and spices) – all combining for a taste-explosion in just one bite! A great appetizer to serve at a party, cookout or barbecue, or any social gathering where it will be sure to create a stir and get the party going!

Category: Appetisers, Asian, Thai  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
17
Sep
Seafood-Pasta Salad
Brigita

P8220016

Ingredients:

500 g shell pasta

500 g marinara mix*

2 spring onions

1 cup cubed gherkins

1/2 cup sliced black olives (calamata)

1 green capsicum chopped

1 yellow capsicum chopped

1 red capsicum chopped

1 small bunch Italian parsley chopped, leave some leafs for garnish

500 g thousand islands dressing (approx.)

cracked black pepper and salt to taste

*Marinara mix: 250 g cooked shrimps, 90 g can smoked mussels, 60 g surimi or crab meat, 100 g cooked squid rings.

Method:

1. Cook pasta, rinse, drain and cool off. Put in a large bowl.

2. Add all other ingredients and mix together.

3. Season to taste.

4. Chill in refrigerator.

Note: The amount of ingredients given are suitable for creating large buffet bowl at big parties. Half the amount for family dinner bowl.

Category: Appetisers, Salads  Tags: , ,  2 Comments
14
Sep
Brodetto
Brigita

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp olive oil

3 large cloves garlic, crushed

1 yellow medium onion chopped

½ cup chopped parsley

400g can Italian-style tomatoes, well mashed

½ large pepper, core and seeds removed, finely chopped

1 tsp salt

12 mussels, scrubbed and soaked with beards removed

12 raw prawns

1 large squid

500 ml fish stock, either purchased or homemade (click here for recipe)

1kg mix of assorted fish fillets, rinsed (snapper, tuna, monk fish, orange roughy, etc…)

1cup white dry wine (optional)

Croûtes:

French bread or focaccia, thinly sliced

olive oil

1 clove garlic, peeled and halved

Method:

Put the olive oil in a wide saucepan with the garlic , onion and parsley. Cook over a gentle heat, stirring, until garlic just starts to change colour. Add the tomatoes and pepper. Cook gently for 10 minutes, then grind in black pepper and add salt.

While the soup base is cooking, put mussels in a small saucepan, splash them with a little water and cover the pan with a lid. Bring to the boil and cook until the shells open. Transfer mussels to a bowl as they are done.

Add the stock and wine to the soup pan and bring to the boil. Cook gently for 10 minutes, then add the fish fillets. Partially cover with a lid and cook very gently for about 7 minutes or until the fish is just cooked through. Prawns and squid are added during the last few minutes and cook until they turn pink throughout (about 2 minutes) and that squid is not rubbery. Add mussels, if using, for the last minute of cooking, to warm through.

Meanwhile, make the garlic croûtes. Brush the slices of bread with the olive oil and place them on a baking tray. Toast in a preheated moderate oven (180°C) for 7-10 minutes or until golden. Remove the croûtes from the oven and immediately rub each slice generously with a cut clove of garlic. Dish the soup into hot bowls and serve with garlic croûtes.

Note: Brodetto refers to ’seafood or fish soup’. Variety of fish and seafood mixed together gives better flavour,  but can be done only with fish mix. Use white fish fillets for a delicate flavour and meatier fish fillets for a more robust soup.

Category: Italian, Mains, Soups  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
12
Sep
Grilled Scallops with Tomato-Black Olive Vinaigrette and Potatoes
Brigita

Ingredients:

(Serves 4)

Scallops:

* 16 sea scallops, preferably diver-caught

* 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

* 3/4 teaspoon salt

* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

* 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, or to taste

* 1 clove garlic , finely chopped

* 3 to 4 large ripe tomatoes , seeded and chopped

* 3/4 cup  oil-cured black olives , pitted and chopped

* 1 bunch basil , roughly chopped

Potatoes:

* 4 large waxy potatoes (preferably Yukon Gold)

* 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

Method:

To make scallops: Rinse and pat dry; place in a bowl. Season with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, combine vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil and garlic. Stir in tomatoes, olives and basil. Season to taste with 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside. Preheat gas grill to medium-high, or prepare a charcoal grill for direct grilling over medium-high heat.

To make potatoes: Cut into slices, about  half a cm thick. Steam on stove top until barely tender. Transfer to a bowl, allow to cool slightly and toss with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place potatoes on grill and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, until browned. Remove to a serving platter and keep warm in a low oven.

Place scallops on grill fitted with an oiled, small-mesh grill rack and cook 1 minute per side, until edges are lightly browned. Divide scallops among 4 individual serving plates. Top with equal portions tomato-olive vinaigrette; serve with potatoes on the side.

Note: When shopping, keep in mind that most sea scallops are fished by boats dragging heavy chains along the ocean floor, damaging fragile habitats in the process. Ask your purveyor for diver-caught scallops, which are gathered by hand and that haven’t been treated with phosphates, a practice that bloats scallops by up to 20 percent of their weight. If you don’t have a small-mesh grill rack, thread the scallops on skewers before grilling to prevent them from falling through the grid.

Category: Italian, Mains  Tags: , ,  Leave a Comment
12
Sep
Thai Spicy Shrimp Salad
Brigita

Ingredients:

500g  shrimp, cleaned and steamed

1 head green leaf lettuce, cut

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1.5cm  ginger root, cut into thin julienne pieces

2 fresh red chilies, thinly sliced

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

1 stalk lemongrass, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

4 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander

4 tablespoons chopped green onions

1 teaspoon black pepper

15 fresh mint leaves

Method:

1. Put the lettuce in salad bowls; arrange the shrimp on top.

2. Place the chilies, onion and ginger over the shrimp.

3. In a small bowl, mix the garlic, lemongrass, fish sauce, sugar, black pepper and lime juice.

4. Pour the dressing over the salads and garnish with mint leaves, green onion and cilantro.

Category: Appetisers, Asian, Salads, Thai  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment