How to Spice Up Your Seafood

The allure of exotic spices launched Columbus on his journey of discovery. Nowadays, house chefs can explore new taste sensations by using spices as well as other flavorful ingredients to add a new world of flavor to fresh fish and seafood.

""There's nothing like the fresh flavors of herbs and spices for cutting unhealthy calories with out sacrificing taste,"" said Red Lobster Executive Chef Michael LaDuke, who provides the following easy ideas for enhancing the natural flavor of fresh fish and seafood:

World of Flavors: An easy recipe that turns fresh fish into an exotic dish is topping tilapia having a mixture of soy sauce, lime juice, orange juice, fresh ginger, garlic and cilantro. To create a richer flavor, make the soy sauce mixture at least 24 hours in advance and refrigerate the sauce overnight. Serve the sauce at room temperature or slightly warmed. With its sweet, mild taste and firm, flaky texture, tilapia will soak up the flavors and take on a deliciously Asian flair.

If you prefer a delicately flavorful fish including halibut, complement its medium-to-firm texture with bold spice blends for example curry or chili.

Wholesome Oils: The key to producing flavorful oils for a simply elegant and heart-healthy meal would be to add herbs and spices, for example basil, garlic, salt and pepper, to olive oil over a low heat on the stove, comparable to making tea. This makes it possible for you to adjust the intensity of the flavor. After heating the olive oil, strain the mixture and eliminate the herbs and spices. For a unique touch, location the olive oil on your table surrounded by sprigs of the fresh herbs and spices.

Be adventurous! Add a number of flavorful herbs and spices to your oil mixture, including exotic peppers, chives, dill, lemongrass or mint. In the event you serve olive oil over salmon, you'll also enjoy the heart-health rewards of crucial omega-3 fatty acids found in this delicious fish.

Cooking With Wine: Wine is not only good for drinking, it's also excellent for cooking. Pour white wine, including a Sauvignon Blanc, over a firm white fish like mahi-mahi and season it with chili powder to intensify the flavor. Mahi-mahi is light sufficient to bring out the crisp citrus taste of this common wine. But don't forget, your sauce is going to be only as good as the wine you pick, so often cook having a wine you enjoy drinking.

Adding Some Zest: Add the tangy flavor of citrus by generously squeezing lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit juices over your favorite fish or seafood and garnishing with freshly grated zest. When making use of fruit zests as a garnish, it is very best to slightly poach them beforehand in sugar water, as raw zests can taste bitter.

For fast, tasty meals, make a citrus butter ahead of time by combining melted butter and citrus juices, cooling the mixture and storing it in the refrigerator until ready to use. Citrus juices mixed with melted butter also make great dipping sauces for succulent lobster and shrimp.

Studies show eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon, at least twice a week is great for the heart. Making use of an array of herbs and spices provides endless opportunities to bring out the very best in all varieties of fresh fish and seafood.

Red Lobster serves guests fresh fish entrees with bold flavors, savory seafood dishes that consist of shrimp, crab and scallops, as well as the company's signature, live Maine lobster.

Did you enjoy reading this? If yes, you may also visit cooking101.org to read more about some of the best cooking tips and guides and have a look at crab legs recipes online.