Seafood/3 recipes

Cajun shrimp Creole simmered for hours in a homemade shrimp stock with fresh tomatoes, three peppers, thyme, basil, and the holy trinity. Even better made a day or two ahead.

Plump oysters nestled in shiitake mushroom caps and glazed with an Asian-inspired sauce of hoisin, oyster sauce, ketchup, and serrano chili. An elegant appetizer ready in just 30 minutes.

Steamed mussels topped with a Thai-spiced fish mousse of ginger, lemongrass, shrimp paste, and basil. An elegant bamboo-steamer appetizer for a Southeast Asian dinner.

Sauteed trout fillets with a warm bacon, chive, and lemon pan sauce. Lightly floured and golden-brown in minutes, this simple fish dinner comes together in one skillet.

Checkerboard clam crunch: crispy pan-fried clam patties bound with Rice Chex cereal and egg, topped with sour cream. A retro mid-century appetizer with surprising texture.

Pasta Chimayo tosses penne in a smoky ancho chile cream sauce with tequila-flambéed shrimp. A New Mexican-meets-Italian fusion dish that brings serious restaurant flair to weeknight dinner.

Quick salmon and broccoli bake with white wine sauce and melted Gruyere cheese: canned salmon chunks layered with frozen broccoli, topped with cheese, baked until bubbly.

Oysters au champagne is a classic French appetizer: fresh oysters poached in champagne and oyster liquor with garlic butter, plated over a bed of wilted spinach, and cloaked in a silky roux sauce.

Grilled Italian shrimp and salami skewers served warm over fresh mozzarella with a balsamic vinaigrette drizzle and fresh basil. Antipasto on a plate, ready in about 20 minutes from the grill.

Seafood casserole with shrimp, scallops, crab, and oysters in a creamy dill-mayo sauce topped with crushed potato chips. A retro four-shellfish bake with a crunchy golden crust.

Steamed salmon fillets wrapped in blanched cabbage leaves with a soy-ginger-sherry marinade, scallions, and cilantro. An Asian-inspired low-calorie main finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Pantry salmon patties from canned salmon: a creamy bechamel-bound mix with lemon, mustard, and Beau Monde seasoning, pan-fried crisp. Served with a tangy lemon cheese sauce on the side.

Grilled napalm shrimp skewers marinated in a blended habanero-cayenne butter sauce with cumin, brown sugar, and Worcestershire. Seriously spicy grilled shrimp for heat seekers.

Grilled prawns basted with homemade chimichurri sauce made from fresh parsley, oregano, garlic, jalapeno, and red wine vinegar. Bright, garlicky, and ready fast.

A Manhattan-style clam chowder made with fresh steamed clams, diced potatoes, tomatoes, and a paprika-spiked vegetable base. Uses homemade clam stock for serious briny depth. Keeps for up to a week.

White fish fillets baked in a foil packet with green pepper, tomato, scallions, lemon, and fresh basil. A 30-minute, low-fat, low-calorie dinner that steams its own sauce.