Fast And Easy Fresh Seafood Dinners

Whether you live near an ocean and have your own fresh catch, or if you've purchased your favorite seafood from a local vendor, you can turn your delicacies into a gourmet dinner quickly and easily. Transform your shrimp, fish, oysters, crab or other fresh seafood into a restaurant-worthy meal in a matter of minutes. 

Fast and Simple Seafood Meal Ideas:

Shrimp Skewers

Shrimp skewers on the grill are ideal for warm summer nights when you don't want to heat up your home with the oven. Use metal skewers, or if you prefer bamboo skewers, soak them in a water for a few minutes before placing them on the grill to eliminate a fire hazard.

Thread the shrimp onto the skewers, alternating them with other fresh ingredients if you'd like. Pineapple, thin lemon slices, bell peppers and onions will all complement the shrimp well. You can also add a pop of flavor by brushing the skewers with your favorite type of sauce, such as teriyaki or barbecue, during the grilling process. 

Grill the skewers for a few minutes on each side, until the shrimp turns opaque. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp, which can make them tough and rubbery.

Parchment Paper-Baked Fish 

Not only is cooking fish in parchment paper fast and easy, it's healthy and flavorful as well. You can use any type of your favorite white fish, such as grouper, flounder or snapper, and turn it into simple, one-package meals.

Start by cutting out 20-inch squares of parchment paper and filling them with a selection of fresh vegetables, such as green beans, cubed red potatoes, onions, any color bell pepper and corn. Top the produce with fillets of fish and drizzle everything with olive oil and fresh lemon juice to keep the ingredients moist during the baking process. Season the food with salt, pepper and any other type of spice you wish. 

Seal up the parchment papers in individual packages and bake them for 20 minutes or until the fish is thoroughly cooked through. 

Seafood Pasta

Whip up a decadent seafood pasta dish that will work for either a family weekday meal or a fancy dinner party. You can use just one type of seafood, such as shrimp, scallops, oysters or clams, or combine two or more of them for a tasty, protein-packed treat.

Start by sauteing the seafood of your choice, along with minced garlic or onions, depending on your preference, in either butter or olive oil. Keep it simple with an oil-based sauce, or pour your favorite bottled marinara or Alfredo sauce into the pan and cook until heated through. Add fresh herbs, such as basil and oregano, for even more flavor, and serve the seafood-studded sauce over hot pasta.

But if your meal plans go awry and you still want seafood, you can always try a restaurant like Gulf Shores Steamer.