16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (2024)

Don't be intimidated -- cooking seafood is easier than you think.

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (1)

Too many people are intimidated by cooking seafood. They might not know what kind of fish to buy and they think it's too delicate and easy to screw up. Seafood, however, can be surprisingly easy. If you're limiting yourself to only eating seafood when you're out at a restaurant, you're selling yourself short.

Salmon, with its meaty texture, is a great fish to start with. It's versatile -- you can bake, pan-sear, grill or poach it -- and its oily skin keeps it naturally moist. Shellfish is also easier to work with than you might think. Shrimp is easy to work with and hard to mess up, and mussels require very little work.

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Now is the perfect time to acquaint yourself with the ways of cooking seafood. We've rounded up 16 of our favorite, easy seafood recipes to help you get started:

1

Spicy Shrimp

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (2)

Helen from Food52

Get the Spicy Shrimp recipe by Helen from Food52

2

Crispy Coconut Kale with Roasted Salmon and Coconut Rice

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (3)

Ashley Couse from Food52

Get the Crispy Coconut Kale with Roasted Salmon and Coconut Rice recipe by Ashley Couse from Food52

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4

Simple, Light Crab Cakes

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (5)

How Sweet It Is

Get the Simple, Light Crab Cakes recipe from How Sweet It Is

5

Linguine con Vongole

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (6)

TheWimpyVegetarian from Food52

Get the Linguine con Vongole recipe by TheWimpyVegetarian from Food52

6

Fish Tacos with Salsa Verde and Radish Salad

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (7)

Martha Stewart

Get the Fish Tacos with Salsa Verde and Radish Salad recipe from Martha Stewart

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7

Grilled Soy-Ginger Ahi Tuna

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (8)

Cookin' Canuck

Get the Grilled Soy-Ginger Ahi Tuna recipe from Cookin' Canuck

8

Shrimp and Grits Style Risotto

ENunn from Food52

Get the Shrimp and Grits Style Risotto recipe by ENunn from Food52

9

Butter-Seared Sole with Snap Peas, Dill + Capers

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (10)

CarolineWright from Food52

Get the Butter-Seared Sole with Snap Peas, Dill + Capers recipe by CarolineWright from Food52

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10

Pan-Crisped Salmon With Light Dijon Cream

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (11)

How Sweet It Is

11

Maple Balsmic Glazed Salmon

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (12)

bell'allimento

Get the Maple Balsmic Glazed Salmon recipe from bell'allimento

12

Salmon with Fennel Baked in Parchment

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (13)

Simply Recipes

Get the Salmon with Fennel Baked in Parchment recipe from Simple Recipes

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13

Spaghetti with Clams and Garlic

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (14)

Food & Wine

Get the Spaghetti with Clams and Garlic recipe from Food & Wine

14

Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp Kebabs

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (15)

SkinnyTaste

Get the Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp Kebabs recipe from SkinnyTaste

15

Mussels with Merguez Sausage

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (16)

Christina Holmes

Get the Mussels with Merguez Sausage recipe from Food & Wine

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16

Baked Tilapia with Fresh Herbs

16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (17)

Martha Stewart

Get the Baked Tilapia with Fresh Herbs recipe from Martha Stewart

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16 Seafood Recipes For Beginners (2024)

FAQs

What is the best seafood for beginners? ›

Cod – cod has a mild flavor that's slightly sweet like tilapia. People love cod because of its soft, flaky texture. It's firmer than tilapia so preparing it at home is easier if you don't have experience with seafood. Mahi mahi – mahi mahi is a great option if you're looking to branch out and try something different!

What seafood should I try for the first time? ›

Choose white-meat seafood: White meat seafood has a mild taste, absorbs flavors and seasonings and has the least fishy taste. Options such as tilapia, flounder, halibut, shrimp, scallops and Chilean sea bass are the perfect fish for picky eaters.

What are 10 types of seafood? ›

Seafood comprises all bony fishes and the more primitive sharks, skates, rays, sawfish, sturgeons, and lampreys; crustaceans such as lobsters, crabs, shrimps, prawns, and crayfish; mollusks, including clams, oysters, co*ckles, mussels, periwinkles, whelks, snails, abalones, scallops, and limpets; the cephalopod mollusks ...

What is the easiest seafood to eat? ›

Most white fish—think tilapia, halibut, grouper, cod—are considered mild in flavor but sometimes have a delicate, sweet, and buttery taste. That's why we like these fish as options for seafood beginners.

What is the tastiest seafood in the world? ›

#1: Salmon

When it comes to the best tasting fish, few fish can rival the allure and versatility of salmon. Renowned for its rich taste and succulent texture, salmon has become a staple in kitchens around the world. Its distinct flavor profile and buttery texture make it a true culinary gem.

What is America's most eaten seafood? ›

1 - Shrimp

Shrimp is the most popular seafood in America, with people consuming an average of almost one pound per person yearly.

What is the most often ordered seafood item in restaurants? ›

What are the most popular seafood menu items?
  • Grilled salmon. Grilled salmon, with its delicate flavor and succulent texture, is a favorite among seafood lovers. ...
  • Lobster bisque. ...
  • Shrimp scampi. ...
  • Crab cakes. ...
  • Seafood paella. ...
  • Clam chowder. ...
  • Oysters Rockefeller.
Mar 27, 2024

What is the best seafood to eat everyday? ›

7 Healthiest Fish to Eat, According to Experts
  1. Sardines. “Sardines are one of the healthiest fish to eat because they're very high in omega-3s,” says Gomer. ...
  2. Mackerel. Mackerel is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, says Sauceda. ...
  3. Anchovies. ...
  4. Salmon. ...
  5. Herring. ...
  6. Trout. ...
  7. Tuna.
Mar 28, 2024

What seafood doesn't taste fishy? ›

Not A Seafood Fan? Try These!
  • #1. Shrimp. Shrimp is the most popular seafood in America. Many people who aren't a fan of fish love this shellfish. ...
  • #2. White Fish. Mild white fish are also popular with people who usually hate fish. ...
  • The best white fish to start with are: • Halibut. • Pollock.

When not to eat seafood? ›

Many take this advice to heart, and never buy or eat seafood in the months between May and August. There are some who say a meal including more than one type of seafood ought to be reserved for the fall and Christmas, or that it should at least be restricted to months with an R (from September to April).

What is the best fish to cook for beginners? ›

Just starting out eating fish, you'll probably want to go with those with a very mild flavor. Cod, haddock, and sole have very light flavors. Avoid tuna and bluefish. Scollops have a very mild flavor as well.

What is the best type of seafood to eat? ›

While there are a number of healthy seafood options available, sardines, salmon, oysters, mackerel, trout, and clams are among the most nutritious and sustainable choices.

How to eat seafood for beginners? ›

If you're new to seafood, try starting with milder fish like Cod or Haddock, and work your way up to stronger flavours like Salmon or mackerel. You can also try marinating or seasoning fish to enhance the flavour and reduce any "fishy" taste.

What is the best fish for beginners to eat? ›

Best Tasting Fish for Beginners:
  • Cod (Pacific Cod): Cod Fish tastes mild and slightly sweet with a delicate flakey texture. Cod is a great first fish because it can be flavored with a variety of flavor combinations from citrus to blackened seasonings. ...
  • Flounder: Flounder is another excellent beginner fish.
Apr 7, 2020

What fish should I eat first? ›

Fortunately for first-timers, wild-caught Alaskan seafood encompasses a variety of fish that doesn't taste fishy. Think of wild Alaskan cod as a set of training wheels for prospective fish lovers. It's mild, flaky, tender, and skinless, amenable to a wide range of easy-to-like preparations.

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