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Easy Seafood Dinners

Create restaurant-quality seafood dishes that burst with flavor in just 30 minutes or less, perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Seafood
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Fresh Seafood
  • 1.5 lbs shrimp (peeled, deveined)
  • salmon fillets or white fish fillets, or scallops
Aromatics
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 2 shallots (finely chopped)
Fresh Herbs
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
Citrus
  • 2 lemons (juiced and zested)
  • 1 lime (juiced)
Cooking Liquids
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
Seasonings
  • Sea salt
  • black pepper
  • red pepper flakes
  • paprika
Pantry Staples
  • 8 oz pasta
  • cherry tomatoes
  • capers
  • pine nuts

Method
 

Preparation and Setup
  1. Begin by patting seafood completely dry with paper towels – moisture is the enemy of proper searing.
  2. Season generously with salt and pepper, allowing it to come to room temperature for 10 minutes.
  3. Prepare all aromatics and have ingredients measured and ready.
  4. Heat your largest skillet over medium-high heat while completing prep work.
Building the Flavor Base
  1. Add olive oil to the heated pan, swirling to coat evenly.
  2. Sauté garlic and shallots for 60-90 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  3. If making Mediterranean seafood, add cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin to burst and release their juices.
Cooking the Seafood
  1. Increase heat to high and add seafood in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding.
  2. Cook shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque and salmon for 4-5 minutes per side for medium doneness.
  3. Do not move seafood too quickly to ensure proper searing.
Deglazing and Finishing
  1. Remove seafood temporarily and deglaze the pan with white wine, scraping up any browned bits.
  2. Add lemon juice, butter, and fresh herbs, swirling to create a glossy emulsion.
  3. Return seafood briefly to warm through and coat with the pan sauce.
Final Assembly and Plating
  1. If serving with pasta, toss the cooked noodles directly in the seafood pan.
  2. Arrange seafood attractively on plates and spoon sauce generously over top.
  3. Garnish with fresh herbs, lemon zest, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Notes

Consider using frozen seafood (properly thawed) and vegetable broth instead of wine. Choose sustainable seafood options when possible. Store leftovers appropriately and consume within 2-3 days.