Category: Seafood

Gambas al Ajillo: a showstopping Spanish shrimp tapas

Shrimp, garlic, red pepper flakes, paprika and lemon create a popular Spanish tapas dish.

Gambas al Ajillo
Gambas al Ajillo

WE ALL NEED CULINARY SECRET WEAPONS, dishes that taste amazing and are easy to make. Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp ajillo) is one of those secret weapon dishes, showstopping delicious and ridiculously simple to prepare. Cook some sliced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes (LOTS of both) in olive oil for a minute; add paprika, lemon juice, sherry and shrimp, and cook for another few minutes; top with parsley and done. Serve with crusty bread for soaking up the juices and you’ll have guests elbowing each other out of the way for the last bits. Continue reading “Gambas al Ajillo: a showstopping Spanish shrimp tapas” →

Linguine with Sautéed Fish and Parsley Anchovy Sauce

A bright, savory, umami-rich way to add more seafood to your diet. Recipe below.

Linguine with Sautéed Fish and Parsley Anchovy Sauce

ON OUR RECENT TRIP TO BOSTON, our diet consisted mostly of seafood and cannolis. Since we’ve been back, we’ve been craving more seafood in our regular diet. Well, and cannolis too, but our doctor encourages only the former. So when we came across a recipe featuring fresh and tinned fish, and pasta, we were all in. Continue reading “Linguine with Sautéed Fish and Parsley Anchovy Sauce” →

Just buttery enough Shrimp Scampi

A mix of olive oil and butter (and not too much of either) gives Shrimp Scampi with Fettuccine its classic rich, indulgent flavor.

Shrimp Scampi with Fettuccine

LAST WEEK’S SHRIMP CUCUMBER STRAWBERRY SALAD HAD US WANTING MORE SHRIMP. And the abundant parsley in our garden made us think of shrimp scampi. It’s a perfect summery pasta dish—garlic, white wine and parsley brighten it up while butter gives it a luxurious finish. But too many recipes go way overboard with the butter, making it heavy and calorific. Continue reading “Just buttery enough Shrimp Scampi” →

A cool dish for a hot summer day: Shrimp Cucumber Strawberry Salad

Shrimp, crisp cucumber slices, juicy strawberries, fresh basil, chives and a slightly sweet vinaigrette create a cool, summery light meal. Recipe below.

Shrimp Cucumber Strawberry Salad

WHEN SUMMER COMES IN HOT AND HEAVY, you don’t want your food to do the same. This light, flavorful Shrimp Cucumber Strawberry Salad is as easy to make as it is to enjoy when it’s really hot out. Continue reading “A cool dish for a hot summer day: Shrimp Cucumber Strawberry Salad” →

Sunday dinner memories and Seared Salmon Fillets with Dill Dijon Sauce

The Dill Dijon Sauce on this Seared Salmon Fillet tastes rich, calorific and sinful, but is in fact 100% fat free.

Seared Salmon Fillets with Dill Dijon Sauce

SUNDAY DINNERS USED TO BE A REGULAR THING WITH US. First, with a rotating cast of friends, and then as we had kids, with family and the occasional friend. Then the girls grew up and moved to other cities, and Sunday dinners became much less frequent. Ironically, the pandemic revived them for us. Continue reading “Sunday dinner memories and Seared Salmon Fillets with Dill Dijon Sauce” →

Seared salmon with mixed greens and miso vinaigrette

For a perfect summer dish, thin slices of salmon cooked quickly slightly warm the mixed greens, green beans and snow pea pods tossed with a Japanese-based miso vinaigrette.

Seared Salmon with Mixed Greens and Miso Vinaigrette

IT IS OFFICIALLY TOO HOT TO COOK HERE NOW. OR EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. That of course had me looking back at things we’ve cooked when it was too hot to cook. When you’ve been writing about cooking for almost 18 years, you actually forget a lot of your former exploits. Like this recipe from 2008, with a salad of mixed greens, snow peas, barely blanched green beans and a miso vinaigrette topped with quickly cooked slices of salmon. You’ll find the summer-easy recipe here.

Check out the Blue Kitchen profile! We were recently interviewed by DeliveryRank for their ongoing blog that covers people involved in food in many roles. They asked great questions that really made me think about our approach to cooking, creating recipes and talking about food—including our penchant for borrowing ingredients from the global pantry and using them in unexpected ways. You’ll find the interview here. Thanks for the opportunity, DeliveryRank!

Many inspirations, one delicious bowl—Asian Fish Soup

A mix of Asian cuisines and ingredients creates a flavorful, spicy, satisfying soup. Recipe below.

Asian Fish Soup

OUR RECENT WISCONSIN ROAD TRIP ended with a quick swing through Madison, where Laurel and Raffy took us to the amazing, delightful Ahan for lunch. Our takeaway? WOW! Continue reading “Many inspirations, one delicious bowl—Asian Fish Soup” →

Quick, flavorful stir fry: Thai Basil Shrimp with Rice Noodles

Thai basil adds a savory, anise-like, slightly spicy note to this flavorful shrimp stir-fry. Recipe below.

Thai Basil Shrimp with Rice Noodles

THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE’VE PLANTED THAI BASIL IN THE GARDEN and it is not disappointing. Our Italian basil is still in the ehhhh, whatever mom sullen teenage phase, but the Thai basil is doing just great, thanks—growing taller and branching and just generally being cheerfully, eagerly productive. It wants to flower, so every few days I hack off the buds, to keep the leaves nice and tender. And every few days, we are rewarded with enough basil, plucked from our one plant, to make a vibrant, tasty dish. Continue reading “Quick, flavorful stir fry: Thai Basil Shrimp with Rice Noodles” →

Weeknight-quick Lemony Shrimp and Bean Stew

Shrimp, white beans, lemon, paprika and a mix of aromatics create a hearty, big-flavored stew that is weeknight quick. Recipe below.

Lemony Shrimp and Bean Stew

EVERY TIME WE HAVE SHRIMP, WE WISH WE MADE IT MORE OFTEN. Shrimp is deliciously versatile, quick and easy to cook, low in calories and high in protein. Having tried it once, this weeknight-quick stew is something we’re definitely going to make more often. Continue reading “Weeknight-quick Lemony Shrimp and Bean Stew” →