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What we placed on our seafood platter


Right here’s what we placed on our seafood platter, a staple on Christmas Day for the RecipeTin Household! Our high ideas for what to get, the place finest to spend your cash and the place to not, and our favorite seafood sauces. Plus, a video on the Sydney Fish Markets – watch me select the seafood!

A lifetime of consuming seafood!

In at present’s recipe, I’m sharing all of the gadgets we placed on our seafood platter – a staple on Christmas Day! We love the benefit (largely no-cook, simply assembling) and since it’s a deal with reserved for particular events. Australian seafood is unbelievable, however good high quality seafood will not be low-cost!

Because of this we’re fairly meticulous with analysis and taste-testing our seafood – we even write nerdy notes to ourselves as reminders, to refine our purchases for the following store. As a result of there’s nothing extra disappointing than spending hard-earned cash on costly crab solely to seek out it tastes fully bland.

So this put up at present is basically our purchasing checklist of what we embrace on our seafood platter. Be taught from all the ideas we now have picked up over a lifetime of seafood consuming, and watch me purchase the seafood on the Sydney Fish Markets to place the seafood platter collectively in at present’s video!

The seafood platter in at present’s put up was our group lunch!

THREE RULES WE LIVE BY for tastier seafood*

  1. All the time purchase Australian.

  2. The much less it’s been frozen, the higher.

  3. Keep away from pre-packaged* (it’s smelly). Purchase contemporary from open shows.

* There are some exceptions and explanations to this rule, famous in opposition to particular gadgets. See Seafood Shopping for Ideas part beneath for extra data!

SUMMARY – What we put on our seafood platter

Here’s a abstract checklist of what goes on our seafood platter. Please see beneath sections on the why, why not, and further ideas. Word: I’m in Sydney, Australia.

1. pre-cooked seafood, served chilly

That is the seafood we get that we bought pre-cooked, or seafood that’s served uncooked. The whole lot we get is Australian – we particularly guarantee it’s as a result of we all know will probably be higher.

  1. Prawns (pre-cooked) – Tiger, king or banana prawns.

  2. Oysters – Pacific or Sydney Rock (Tasmanian and Merimbula oysters are my favourites)

  3. Morton Bay Bugs (over Balmain Bugs) – Pre-cooked.

  4. Blue swimmer crabs (finest over 350g) – Pre-cooked. Alternatively: Spanner crabs, however learn crab part beneath (together with king crab & mud crab recommendation).

  5. Sashimi – Kingfish, tuna, salmon are most typical

  6. Smoked salmon – Offered in packets, I solely get Huon (Tasmanian).

  7. Dipping sauces – Our Household Favorite Seafood Sauce, and Tartare or Marie Rose sauce (recipes right here)

TIPS: Seafood high quality is healthier at fish mongers and the fish markets, one purpose being they appear after it higher than giant chain grocery shops. For all of the above, we solely get Australian, and seafood that’s undergone as little freezing as doable. The freshest seafood has by no means been frozen: caught and bought ideally on the identical day. Nevertheless the fact is a few seafood must be snap frozen at sea earlier than reaching market and is bought thawed. This contains even cooked prawns on the fish markets throughout Christmas time. Performed correctly, glorious seafood high quality continues to be maintained.

However the level is, the much less freezing-thawing cycles, the higher. The worst is: Caught > frozen > thawed > cooked > frozen > thawed (like low-cost lobster at grocery shops possible is). High quality degrades with every step!

2. luxurious seafoods – ONLY BUY for those who can afford high quality

Listed below are the top-ticket seafood platter signatures that we strongly suggest solely shopping for for those who can afford good high quality. And not at all will your platter be any much less scrumptious with out them! These will not be regulars on our seafood platter.

  1. Lobster (crayfish) – Not price it until you possibly can afford $100+/kg for prime quality lobster. A budget grocery retailer lobsters are garbage (sorry, however they’re). Lobster serving recipes right here.

  2. King crab (~$90/kg) – All people loves the large meaty crab legs! Whereas they’re bought pre-cooked for comfort, we discover the pre-cooked product very hit or miss. King crab is imported which may additionally play a component within the variability of high quality. So we stopped shopping for pre-cooked king crab after too many disappointments for such an costly meals. Need king crab? Greatest purchase uncooked legs and cook dinner it your self.

  3. Mud crab (~$90/kg) – Purchase it reside and cook dinner it your self (right here’s the way to put together mud crab). You don’t see usually see frozen or cooked mud crab. If shopping for cooked mud crab, test with the vendor how contemporary it’s and when it was alive (we’re suspicious by nature and assume it was half useless in order that they cooked it).

3. SEAFOOD WE COOK (SOMETIMES)

Left to proper: Crispy Salt & Pepper Squid, Marinated Child Octopus and Mussels

Whereas our seafood platter is usually comprised of chilly pre-cooked seafood, if we do have cooked seafood, these are the dishes we mostly embrace.

  1. Child octopusBought in luggage frozen or uncooked, marinated then BBQ’d till the legs are charred and crispy! Uncommon seafood merchandise that freezes nicely.

  2. Mussels – Cooked forward and served at room temperature (it’s so nice!). Mussels are a uncommon seafood merchandise that vac packs nicely. Our favorite model are Kinkawooka blue mussels (very best quality, juiciest!) – search for the purple bag, bought even at common grocery shops.

  3. Salt and pepper squid – 3 years within the making, we lastly cracked the proper salt and pepper squid! That is on the RecipeTin Household Christmas menu for this 12 months. Recipe coming earlier than Christmas…

4. STANDARD SIDES

Listed below are the usual sides we serve alongside a seafood platter:

And truthfully, that’s all we do. We preserve it easy to let the seafood shine! Additionally, as a result of Christmas ought to be about be stress-free not slaving within the kitchen, is our motto. 🙂

5. GOING THE EXTRA MILE

If we’re feeling significantly impressed or have VIP visitors, we’ll go the additional mile and add “particular” further dishes. Issues we attain for embrace:

  • Christmas Baked Salmon – An enormous assertion facet of salmon that’s made for Christmas festivities!

  • Crispy Beer Battered Fish – and I exaggerate not after I say they’re crispy and keep crispy!

  • Crispy Do-it-yourself Friesthey’re crispy even lengthy after they cool

  • Retailer purchased potato gems (tater tots) – I’m not even going to fake we try to make these. We purchase frozen, we love ’em, and I’m not ashamed to inform the world! For particular events, we even deep fry them as an alternative of baking (OMG I do know, you’re horrified).

  • Chinese language Honey Prawns – OMG YES!!! Crunchier than you’ve ever had at any Chinese language restaurant, these will blow your thoughts!

  • Singapore Chilli Crab – An enormous, big, assertion major.

  • Complete Baked Fish – The dill butter sauce is all the pieces….

  • Another seafood or fish recipe – right here’s the full assortment.

5. seafood sauces

With the above contemporary seafood, we merely serve with contemporary lemon wedges and two sauces (recipes right here):

  1. Household Favorite Seafood Sauce – A household staple. All people who’s tried this sauce loves it! It’s primarily a mash up of Marie Rose Sauce and Tartare sauce with the added freshness from dill. It’s a bit particular, and all the time successful. 🙂

  2. Marie Rose / Thousand Island – The basic pink sauce.

  3. Cocktail Seafood Sauce – A piquant pink sauce that goes heavier on the tomato sauce (ketchup).

  4. Tartare Sauce – It’s wonderful how significantly better selfmade tastes, even utilizing jar mayo. But so easy!

  5. Thai Chilli Lime Sauce – Tangy with lime and hit of candy chilli, for a stunning no-mayo contemporary sauce various.

Our normal alternative is the Household Favorite Seafood Sauce plus both Marie Rose or Tartare.

Discover all of the Seafood Dipping Sauces right here.


Extra about every seafood merchandise

I warned you I’ve loads to say about seafood!! 😂 So on this part, I’m delving into extra particulars about every.

Prawns

5 great Prawn Dipping Sauces: Cocktail / Seafood Sauce, Tartare, Marie Rose / Thousand Island, or a Thai Chilli Lime Sauce for something fresher. recipetineats.com

Prawns are a reliable favorite in Australia, and we’re blessed with an abundance of wonderful high quality prawns! The three most typical varieties are:

  1. Tiger prawns – Extra salty and savoury.

  2. King prawns – Extra of a candy flavour. (You’d count on them to be bigger, however they aren’t all the time!).

  3. Banana prawns – Candy, delicate flavour, and infrequently extra economical

We love all of them, and can fortunately eat any of them.

TIPS

  • We purchase them pre-cooked – Most Australian prawns are cooked quickly after being caught, which locks in freshness and flavour. So long as they’re contemporary, the standard is superb. You would additionally purchase them uncooked and boil your self.

  • Make sure you get Australian prawns as a result of the flavour is superior, the flesh is sweeter, and to help the Australian fishing trade! Whereas most tiger and king prawns are domestically sourced, imported banana prawns are extra frequent. Simply pay attention to the show label.

  • Keep away from pre-packaged prawns. They are often much less contemporary and smelly, beware! If that’s all you may get, take them out nicely earlier than serving, give them a superb rinse then depart to air dry.

  • TOP TIP: Ask for a style take a look at before you purchase!


Moreton Bay bugs – the higher worth lobster

That is one in every of our gold nugget ideas! 🥰

We favor to eat Moreton Bay bugs as an alternative of lobster. They style much like lobster but are about 70% cheaper at ~$40/kg. The truth is, Moreton Bay bugs (and Balmain bugs) are a slipper lobster and are carefully associated to rock lobsters, so the flavour similarity is no surprise!

Moreton Bay bugs even have the next meat-to-shell ratio (30-40% yield) than lobster and are simpler to chop. They’re extra compact in form, so simpler to retailer too. They’re caught on the northern a part of Australia’s coast, largely off the coast of Queensland.

We purchase them pre-cooked (orange-coloured) which is the commonest approach they’re bought, although you may get them uncooked (aka “inexperienced”, on the suitable beneath) and cook dinner your self (simply boil them).

Balmain bugs vs Moreton Bay bugs – Balmain Bugs are the opposite species of slipper lobsters bought in Australia. We often purchase Moreton Bay over Balmain bugs, as we favor the milder flavour, discover the standard often extra dependable, and so they’re additionally usually bigger. Additionally, simply FYI, regardless of the title, Balmain bugs aren’t really caught within the Balmain space of Sydney! They’re caught throughout the southern shoreline of Australia, although primarily in NSW. However for those who can’t discover Moreton Bay bugs, Balmain bugs is a strong various.


Oysters

Right here in Australia, we now have two forms of oysters: Pacific oysters and Sydney Rock oysters. Pacific oysters are usually bigger, with a fleshy, creamy texture. The flavour is clear and delicate. Sydney Rock Oysters are usually smaller, typically with yellow-tinged flesh and have a meatier mouthfeel. The flavour is stronger and extra complicated than Pacific oysters.

I like each of them!

Each these oysters are grown in varied areas throughout Australia, and the area wherein they’re grown impacts high quality and flavour. I’m significantly keen on Tasmanian-grown oysters (clear flavour with out a bitter end, and a few are gigantic!). Merimbula is a Sydney fine-dining favorite supply as are Port Stephens and Batemans Bay. Boomer Bay is a latest one I attempted that I loved as nicely.

Purchase them already shucked (ie. opened) and serve with lemon wedges, that’s all you want. Although, for those who’d wish to attempt a sauce, 3 of our favourites are coming earlier than Christmas!

JB’s basic oyster mignonette sauce recipe is coming quickly!

Crab

I’ve a weird quantity of knowledge to share about crab! Presumably as a result of I like crab but it surely’s costly – and it’s a ache to pick the meat particularly for those who purchase sure sorts. 😂

Raw blue swimmer crab
Blue Swimmer Crabs are our go-to for seafood platters, however ensure they’re giant!

So right here’s my ideas on crab:

  • Blue swimmer crab (~$35/kg) – This Australian favorite is our desire for worth, flavour and high quality so long as they’re on the massive measurement (350g/ 12 oz+). Something smaller and the ratio of meat-to-shell is simply too low, and it’s a ache to select the meat out of tiny legs. Purchase it cooked, or purchase uncooked and cook dinner your self (simply boil).

  • Spanner crab (~$35/kg) can also be good worth however the crab’s anatomy could be very completely different to blue swimmer crabs. The meat is usually within the physique, which is proportionally giant whereas the claws are small and flat. The crab flesh is deliciously candy. Nevertheless it’s fairly advantageous and extra crumbly than different crabs. Purchase it cooked. You don’t usually see it uncooked.

  • King crab – Folks love king crab due to the extraordinarily meaty legs and claws, and the agency, candy flesh. But it surely’s costly! We suggest giving frozen cooked king crab a miss. Through the years, we’ve discovered it hit or miss, because it’s typically disappointingly flavourless – such a waste of cash 😭. In order for you king crab, purchase the raw legs and cook dinner your self. Word that king crab is usually imported and as a basic rule, this could have an effect on reliability of high quality. Extra freezing actually appears to degrade the standard of crab.

  • Mud crab – The king of all Aussie crabs! We find it irresistible (particularly Singapore Chilli Crab), however as it’s bought reside it’s fairly costly and it’s important to cook dinner it your self. You hardly ever see it frozen or pre-cooked. After we do, we’re suspicious because it’s arduous to know the way contemporary the crab was previous to cooking.

Chopping crab for serving – instructions within the recipe card! There’s even a video. 🙂

Raw mud crab
A contemporary mud crab for Singapore Chilli Crab.

Sashimi (uncooked fish)

Sure, we do! Completely at dwelling on a seafood platter 🙂

There’s no have to get masses, just a bit bit, for further selection within the platter amongst all that shellfish. We simply go to the sashimi bar on the Sydney Fish Markets and get what seems good or what we really feel like. Kingfish, tuna and salmon are favourites, however we love to combine it up if there are different fascinating fish varieties on provide.


Smoked salmon

A pleasant straightforward one to incorporate on the seafood platter. All people loves it, and once more, it provides to selection and abundance!

The one smoked salmon I get is Huon Salmon. I do know there’s quite a lot of debate concerning the sustainability of salmon farming right here in Australia. Nevertheless based mostly on my analysis (and in addition a go to to their farms in Tasmania), I consider Huon’s farming practices to be extra sustainable than the opposite main model right here in Australia and imported economical manufacturers, and kinder to native wildlife.


Cooked mussels

A latest addition to our chilly seafood platter: cooked mussels served at room temperature. It’s so good! They current properly for those who cube up the greens actually small so you possibly can scatter them on the mussels for presentation functions. Serve them within the half shell, spooning some mussel cooking liquor sauce into the shells to maintain them moist and add some pretty further flavour.

The mussels pictured above have been cooked utilizing this cookbook recipe however this recipe can even work (comparable). Simply keep in mind to cube up the greens further small for a chic look, like pictured above.

Our favorite model of mussels is Kinkawooka which can be found at grocery shops in addition to fish mongers. In comparison with different manufacturers, the mussels are significantly heavier which suggests they’re meatier and juicier.


Lobster (really, crayfish)

Cooked lobsters

So, right here’s the factor with lobster. It’s not a daily on our seafood platters. As famous above, we often get Moreton Bay bugs as an alternative as a result of it’s so comparable however much better worth and logistically simpler to chop, retailer and so on.

Nevertheless, I do have data to impart about lobster as a result of I’ve a buddy who catches native lobsters and shares them with me. Additionally, there was that point through the pandemic when our lobster export trade got here to a standstill as a result of commerce tensions with China, so there was an abundance of lobsters often bought upwards of $100 at fish mongers going for $20 at common grocery shops.

So I’ve really developed a good quantity of expertise cooking with lobster with out shelling out an extortionate quantity to purchase them!

Shopping for lobster

In order for you lobster in your seafood platter, simply to reiterate what I’ve stated a number of occasions earlier, be ready to pay high greenback for it – $100/kg+. There’s truthfully no level shopping for a budget ones (~$10 tails) at grocery shops, they style like nothing! You might be higher off utilizing that price range for extra prawns.

Select Australian lobster – cooked is nice (it’s boiled freshly caught at sea). Then head over to my lobster recipes to decide on one! There are 6 lobster recipes, all of that are suited to inclusion in a seafood platter, together with the way to reduce and put together lobster.

PS It’s crayfish, not lobster

And only for a little bit of meals trivia: What most individuals name “lobster” right here in Australia technically will not be lobsters, they’re crayfish. They’re nearly the identical in look, however they don’t have the large pincers that lobsters have within the US and Europe. We don’t have true lobsters right here in Australia. 😊

TOP TIPS FOR BUYING & storing SEAFOOD

Listed below are some ideas for getting seafood. The overarching precept to recollect is that seafood is extremely perishable, so must be dealt with correctly to take care of high quality. Most seafood loses high quality (texture particularly but additionally flavour) when not frozen correctly or frozen-then-thawed excessively.

  1. Purchase Australian. It won’t be the most affordable, but it surely’s tastier. Why? The standard of our fisheries and processors, and proximity to the patron means a brisker product.

  2. Purchase contemporary slightly than frozen. Each time seafood is frozen, high quality is misplaced (flavour, texture). Although, there are a couple of exceptions, like child octopus, famous within the sections above.

  3. Pre-cooked seafood is superb – and that’s what we largely purchase (prawns, crab, Morton bay bugs). It’s boiled at sea quickly after being caught to lock in freshness and flavour!

  4. Don’t stretch your price range and get swept up within the “should have lobster” frenzy – until you possibly can afford the great things. Low cost lobster tastes of nothing – been there, performed that!! As an alternative, purchase extra prawns. 🙂

  5. Purchase from contemporary seafood shows slightly than pre-packaged. It’s simply brisker and higher when seafood can breathe and is on show for buyers to see. Pre-packaged seafood (vacuum sealed or in containers with cling wrap) will get smelly and who is aware of how lengthy it’s been within the pack. I significantly keep away from vacuum-sealed seafood with a shelf lifetime of weeks. That’s simply plain flawed!

  6. The sniff take a look at – It’s straightforward to inform in case your seafood is contemporary: simply odor it. Recent seafood smells just like the ocean. Not very contemporary seafood smells disagreeable and “fishy”! Earlier than tossing it although, give it a superb rinse. Typically, the “off” odor can simply be the juices from poorly packaged or dealt with seafood. Because of this I favor shopping for seafood from open shows slightly than pre-packaged.

  7. By no means re-freeze seafood that’s been beforehand frozen. You may cook dinner thawed uncooked seafood, then freeze it. However ought to by no means thaw uncooked or cooked seafood purchased frozen, then freeze it once more. (The exception is seafood that will have been industrially frozen at sea – see earlier explanations).

  8. Keep away from storing seafood in plastic luggage the place doable – To maintain seafood contemporary longer, don’t retailer in plastic luggage – particularly if in a single day or longer. Moisture and lack of air circulation speed up the spoiling course of. Transfer your seafood to a roomy container or deep plate with a rack on the backside so air can flow into round it. Wrap loosely with cling movie. The seafood stays brisker longer and avoids that terrible sliminess and fishy odor that builds up if left suffocating in fish juice in a plastic bag!

Why we purchase pre-cooked seafood

Pre-cooked prawns

Our seafood platter is predominantly chilly seafood that we bought already cooked. The explanation for that is easy – the standard of pre-cooked seafood right here in Australia is superb (if you realize what to purchase) and it’s handy.

When you’re considering – absolutely uncooked seafood I cook dinner myself goes to be higher – it may be true, but it surely’s usually pricier and further work to organize!

Really, pre-cooked seafood could be a number of the finest tasting seafood you purchase as a result of it’s boiled at sea as quickly as it’s caught, locking in contemporary flavour when it’s at its prime. Prawns are an awesome instance of this, with most prawns bought at fish mongers right here in Australia bought pre-cooked.

Pre-cooking additionally offers with the logistical problem related to how extremely perishable seafood is as a result of it extends the shelf life, in addition to making the seafood extra inexpensive for shoppers.


The place I purchase seafood

For particular events, I am going to the Sydney Fish Markets the place you get higher choice and extra persistently larger high quality. However on a everyday foundation, I simply go to my native fish monger.

Mud Crab at Sydney Fish Markets

I usually don’t purchase seafood from the grocery retailer, simply because I discover the standard will not be that nice and isn’t all the time dealt with with the care it ought to be.

I do suppose although that right here in Australia, we’re very fortunate to have an abundance of fine high quality seafood, so even seafood from grocery shops is definitely not that unhealthy. I’m only a bit fussy – I’d slightly bask in seafood much less usually and spend a little bit extra to get good high quality seafood after I do. That’s simply the way in which I roll. 🙂


How we put collectively the seafood platter

And with all that data and opinions shared, we lastly arrive on the serving and consuming half!

For the RecipeTin Household, one of many issues that appeals to us a few seafood platter is that it’s primarily no-cook, and it’s a chilly major which is good for warm summer time Aussie Christmases. So that you actually pull it out of the fridge, pile it up onto platters then serve!

OK, OK. I may give a little bit extra steerage right here, in case you’re . Right here we go:

  1. Ice mattress – If we now have ice, we’ll unfold that onto a giant serving platter, tray or a number of plates. This not solely retains the seafood chilly, but additionally offers a pleasant non-slip mattress to place the seafood on.

  2. Assembling – Pile the seafood on the ice, randomly scatter lemon wedges round then nestle in bowls of sauces. A couple of sprigs of parsley may also make it onto the platter – however that’s actually going above and past. 😂

Laying out the seafood

There’s no guidelines for the way in which I lay out the seafood, besides logistical issues:

  • Oysters laid out largely in a single layer or rigorously shingled to keep away from the oyster juices from spilling

  • Mussels laid out the identical as oysters so the sauce stays in with out spilling

  • Prawns, Moreton Bay bugs and crab – piled excessive (reserve the crab carapace (high shell) for adornment)

  • Sashimi – fanned out

  • Smoked salmon – randomly draped round

Issues of serving (tip: finger bowls!)

To serve, we put the platters out together with loads of napkins, bowls for discarded shells and finger bowls of water with lemon slices for folks to dip their palms in for a quick clear earlier than diving again in for extra seafood.

How else can I assist you?

And with that, I believe I’m performed! Or – am I? Are there any crucial issues I’ve missed? Is there different seafood you’d wish to learn about? Corresponding to, let’s say, abalone. A extremely prized delicacy right here in Australia – why doesn’t it make our reduce, it’s possible you’ll be questioning??

This and some other questions you’ve got, please depart them beneath and we’ll do our greatest to handle them and replace this put up with further data. I can’t promise I’ll proceed to do that past Christmas 2023, however I can promise that we are going to monitor questions and replace this put up main as much as Christmas Day. As a result of the entire function of doing at present’s put up is to assist readers who need to put collectively a tremendous seafood platter!

I hope you discover this handy and benefit from the little video of my purchasing journey to the Sydney Fish Markets to decide on and buy seafood for the seafood platter featured on this put up. – Nagi x


Watch the way to make it

Video of me selecting seafood on the Sydney Fish Markets and placing a seafood platter collectively:

Additionally, a little bit tutorial on the way to reduce and put together Moreton Bay Bugs and Balmain Bugs in your seafood platter:

Hungry for extra? Subscribe to my e-newsletter and comply with alongside on Fb, Pinterest and Instagram for the entire newest updates.

RecipeTin Seafood platter

Seafood Platter

Servings8

Faucet or hover to scale

Video above! That is what we placed on our seafood platter. Our desire is to purchase most seafood pre-cooked (boiled at sea) and serve it chilly. See the put up above for why we select this stuff – it is all about very best quality and finest worth for cash! Sorts of seafood specified are for Australia.Prime ideas: Purchase Australian (or domestically caught, wherever you’re on this world) and the place doable purchase contemporary slightly than thawed/frozen (most seafood loses high quality when frozen). Do not buy low-cost lobster, it is a whole waste of cash. Get Moreton Bay bugs as an alternative (it is so comparable, however cheaper) or extra prawns as an alternative. Keep away from shopping for pre-packaged for those who can, it is brisker from open shows!

Components

  • 2 kg / 3 lb complete prawns , pre-cooked, shell on (Tiger, King or Banana prawns)
  • 24 oysters – Sydney Rock or Pacific , love each (Tasmanian, Merimbula and Port Stephens are favourites)
  • 4 blue swimmer crabs (400g/14oz+) (not smaller), pre-cooked in shell, complete
  • 8 Moreton Bay bugs , pre-cooked in shell, complete (fallback – Balmain Bugs)
  • 200g / 7 oz smoked salmon (Huon is the one Australian one I get)
  • 250g / 8 oz sashimi , pre-sliced (tuna, kingfish or salmon)
  • 1 kg / 2 lb mussels – cooked, served at room temp (Word 5)

Further dishes pictured in put up and the video

Directions

  • Buy all seafood as shut as doable to the serving date. We frequently do the 5AM store on the Sydney Fish Markets on Christmas Eve, as a result of we’re barely loopy! We do not order on-line (we like to decide on our personal).

  • Storage – Cooked seafood will simply preserve 2 days, contemporary uncooked for cooking will too for those who take it out of the plastic luggage, put in a colander or comparable and really loosely cowl with cling wrap (respiratory = much less smelly).

  • Crab – To chop the crab, comply with instructions in Minimize a Complete Crab besides DO NOT reduce off the claws if you’re utilizing a Blue Swimmer Crab. (See notice)
  • Moreton Bay bug – To chop the bug, flip it on to its again. Minimize down by means of the center (the shell will not be too arduous). Clear out the yellow and brown matter within the head, then it is able to serve. Recipe video above.

  • Sauce – Make your sauces of alternative. They are going to be used for dipping prawns, Moreton Bay bugs and crab (I additionally use for vegetable sticks and bread!). Refrigerate till required (2 days+).

  • Mussels – Make mussels, if utilizing. Nice served at room temperature on a chilly seafood platter.

Assembling:

  • Ice (optionally available) – Cowl a big platter with ice. This retains the seafood chilly in addition to offering a non-slip mattress.

  • Pile the prawns, crab and bugs on to the platter. Drape smoked salmon randomly round. Fan out the sushi.

  • Oysters Place them stage to keep away from the juices within the shells spilling out (what a waste!).

  • Mussels Break off one shell, and serve within the remaining shell. Then place the mussels in a single layer, or shingled (stacked however stage). Spoon on a little bit of the diced greens and a few reserved mussel cooking liquor.

  • Sauce and lemon – Nestle bowls stuffed with sauces amongst the seafood and scatter over lemon wedges. Serve alongside finger bowls for cleansing and bowls to discard shells, and many napkins. Fill glasses with wine, cheers to Christmas! Now dive in!

Recipe Notes:

Further ideas so as to add on the facet: Christmas Baked Salmon, Crispy Beer Battered Fish, Do-it-yourself Fries, frozen retailer purchased potato gems (tater tots), Chinese language Honey Prawns, Singapore Chilli Crab, Complete Baked Fish some other seafood or fish recipe – right here’s the full assortment.


See in put up for extra ideas and ideas on every merchandise listed. Abstract factors beneath!

  1. Prawns – Tiger, king and banana prawns in Australia are all nice, although if I needed to decide one I’d select tiger prawns (I like the salty barely extra intense flavour). Be careful for imported – Australian prawns are superior in flavour.
  2. Oyster – Each Sydney Rock (smaller, stronger flavour) and Pacific (fleshier, cleaner flavour) oysters are nice. These are the 2 varieties right here in Australia. The standard and flavour comes all the way down to the place and the way they’re grown.
  3. Moreton Bay bugs – The “higher worth lobster”!. At ~$40/kg, they’re simpler to chop, to eat and have the next meat-to-shell ratio. There’s actually no level getting low-cost lobster, tastes of nothing. When you get lobster, you want to spend $100/kg+. Don’t hassle with low-cost lobster!
  4. Crab – Blue swimmer crabs for the very best for flavour (in our view) and worth, however don’t get small ones <350g/12oz, it’s a ache to get the meat out. Spanner crab can also be nice however all of the meat is within the shell (reduce per identical instructions). Mud crab and king crab – please learn in put up for our view on these (purchase uncooked, ensure it’s Australian, and cook dinner your self), they’re costly so get it proper!
  5. Mussels – cooked utilizing this cookbook recipe or this recipe,  however cube the greens very small (to make use of as garnish on mussels). Cool to room temperature then serve on platter.

Lifetime of Dozer

One in all my favorite images of Dozer within the cookbook. Buried smack bang in the course of the e book, it have to be fairly a shock for individuals who don’t know me to be flicking by means of tasty meals images then instantly come throughout this!! 😂 (Web page 174, Restaurant Worthy Prawn Linguine).



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