Happy April, Seafoodies!
Finally – springtime! We love this season where everything is fresh and bursting with flavor. Because seafood pairs so well with delicate spring flavors, it’s perfect for spring holiday meal planning. Pull out the pastels and bunnies and turn to our April Meal Plan to make a memorable spring groaning table! You’ll find some tempting recipes for Passover, too!
When planning your Easter menu, opt for dishes that are light, luscious and celebratory — like spring itself. Start off with craveable, holiday-hued appetizers such as our crispy coconut shrimp with chili-apricot dipping sauce, fresh Vietnamese spring rolls and creamy deviled eggs stuffed with smoked salmon, and your guests will know from the first sight (and bite) that they’re in for a special treat! Looking for a heartier start? We think a garlicky, butter-poached lobster-cargot (you read that right) and a shrimp-tacular take on Cobb salad will fit the bill nicely.
For dinner, we’re partial to elegant dishes that come together quickly… in other words: offer a high mingling-to-kitchening ratio. How about spicy sheet-pan salmon or lemony tilapia piccata, both ready 20 minutes or less? These dishes offer irresistible flavors, tons of springtime appeal and as a bonus, minimal cleanup. Outdoor cooking enthusiasts will gravitate toward the flaky grilled halibut, and so will your guests: It’s lightly charred and topped with a kicky, balsamic-laced salsa. For sheer ease, it’s hard to beat the crab gnocchi, which can bake in the oven while you pour the bubbly. Layered with spinach and two cheeses, it’s several springtime comfort foods rolled into one! And if you’re a mussels or tuna fan, don’t despair because we’ve got an Easter-ready dish for you, too.
However you choose to celebrate the spring holidays, making seafood the centerpiece of your meal will help you refuel after the Easter egg hunt or a long Passover seder! Shrimp, tuna, salmon, tilapia, and crab (not to mention lobster, tilapia, mussels and halibut) are all rich sources of omega-3s, essential vitamins and minerals that keep every-bunny in tip-top (make that tip-hop) shape. They’re also loaded with protein, so these seafood dishes are guaranteed to satisfy your appetite as well as your taste buds. This means it’s less likely you’ll be raiding the kids’ Easter baskets for jelly beans and marshmallow chicks!
Let’s hop into the recipes and get this spring party started, shall we? Happy holidays, Seafoodies!
Appetizers
Coconut Shrimp with Chili-Apricot Sauce
Word to the wise: Make a double batch! These coconut-crusted shrimp will get snapped up quickly!
With salmon-pink centers and flecks of green, these pastel eggs look like miniature works of art — and taste even better.
These authentic shrimp rolls are wrapped with fresh herbs, thin veggie strips and rice noodles for a springtime treat. Enjoy them as-is, or slice into canapé-sized pieces so there’s more to go around!
You’ve tasted escargot; now, try lobstercargot. It’s a lobstah-fied twist on the French classic!
Shrimp Cobb Salad with Lemon-Chive Dressing
Protein plus: This supremely satisfying salad dishes up plump shrimp, hard-boiled eggs and avocado tossed with bacon, corn and crumbled cheese. Drizzle on a tangy Greek yogurt dressing, and you’re talking salad bliss!
Dinner
When the dinner clock is ticking, smart Seafoodies head to the pantry! All you need is some lemon, garlic, capers and a splash of white wine to make this quick-cooking, brightly flavored tilapia dish.
It’s so easy to make bistro-worthy bivalves at home! This mussels dish checks all the boxes: quick, tasty and off-the-charts nutritious.
Grilled Halibut with Tomato Avocado Salsa
Springtime on a plate! Try this super-healthy halibut for Easter, and you’ll want to grill it all season long.
This tantalizing tuna dish wows with a Mediterranean-inspired sauce featuring juicy crushed tomatoes, briny olives and garlic. It’s pantry-friendly, too, so you can make it anytime.
A little bit sweet, a little bit spicy and a whole lotta salmon! Imagine: You’re only five ingredients and 20 minutes away from an amazing dinner.
This crab gnocchi dish is a showstopper; no doubt about it! Spinach and two cheeses round out this easy-bake meal that’s sized for a crowd.
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