49 butterfly recipes

A fun way to entertain the crowd, and these shrimp lejon are delicious.

Butterflied leg of lamb marinated overnight in pomegranate juice, red wine, garlic, and basil, then grilled or roasted. A show-stopping Persian-inspired main course.

Cumin-crusted turkey breasts dredged in a cornmeal-flour-cayenne coating and pan-sauteed until golden. A Southwestern-spiced turkey cutlet served sliced with salsa.

Barbecued lamb neck fillet marinated in rosemary, thyme, garlic, and olive oil for up to 48 hours. Butterflied thin for fast, even grilling.

Lobster stuffed beef tenderloin with lobster tails tucked inside a butterflied roast, topped with bacon, and served with a white wine butter sauce.

Broiled scampi marinated in olive oil, white wine, lemon juice, and fish stock with fresh basil and oregano. Butterflied prawns cooked golden in 10 minutes flat.

Ebi kimizushi: elegant Japanese stuffed-prawn sushi, with butterflied vinegar-marinated prawns filled with a silky, seasoned golden egg-yolk paste. A refined, bite-sized appetizer.

Shrimp scampi with Ritz crackers butterflied in their shells, brushed with garlic butter, topped with crushed buttery crackers, and baked until golden. Old-school New England seafood favorite.

Shrimp Andre sautes mushrooms, onion, and butterflied shrimp in butter with sherry, then folds in a lemony Mornay sauce. A classic French bistro plate over rice pilaf, ready in 20 minutes.

Quick stir-fried shrimp with garlic, ginger, green onion, and a brandy flambe finish. Butterflied shrimp seared over high heat and ready in under 5 minutes.

Sumatran Coconut Cornish Game Hens butterflied, broiled, then braised in a fragrant coconut milk sauce with lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, chili, and coriander until tender and lacquered.

Steamed shrimp with garlic, soy sauce, rice wine, and scallions in a Chinese-style preparation. Butterflied shrimp topped with slow-cooked golden garlic and steamed until tender.

Microwave crab-stuffed jumbo shrimp butterflied and topped with a buttery crab meat, breadcrumb, and lemon filling with cayenne. An easy appetizer ready in 20 minutes.

Butterflied leg of lamb marinated in olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs, then roasted to a rosy medium-rare. The centerpiece of a Greek Easter table.

Butterflied shrimp topped with a buttery crab, scallion, and hot-sauce stuffing, microwaved fast for an easy two-person seafood dinner. Ready in 30 minutes flat.

Elephant ears with pecan filling: puff pastry rolled with cinnamon-cardamom-pecan filling, sliced and baked into butterfly-shaped pastries. Bakery-style breakfast treat at home.