Throwing a summer seafood shindig is one delicious way to invite a shell of a good time to the boil, bake, shuck, steam, dip, fry and grill it up party.
Shindig is defined as an informal lively party, and the summer seafood season seasons a good time with the right amount of fun and flavor.
Summer is reason enough to throw a lively celebration large or small with seasonal seafood including lobster, crab, shrimp, clams, Mahi-mahi, cod and catfish fillets.
Dane Tashima with Styling by Raina Kattelson for Country Living Magazine
We’re going to apply the rule of Kiss and keep it summer simple with these suggested dinnerware and barware options.
Beach House Lobster Multi-Colored Melamine Dinner Plate (Set of 6)
Versatility offers options, and options are good when it comes to entertaining.
Sigrid Olsen Set of 4 Melamine Dinner Plates, Lobster with Coral Border
Melamine dinnerware is a favored option for outdoor entertaining due to the convenience, durability, and practicality of the material.
Melamine Dinner Plates, 6-Piece Plate Set Unbreakable Serving Dishes
Grey Marble Stoneware Round Dinner Plate
Thyme & Table Stoneware Dinner Plate, Atlantic Blue Collection
Radiance 12-Piece Casual Teal Melamine Outdoor Dinnerware Set (Service for 4)
Photo by Jon Tyson
Tart Cherry-Hibiscus Refresher Recipe
Vintage Clear Hobnail Highball Glasses
Thyme & Table 6-Pack 20 fl oz Tortoise Blue Drinking Glass Set
Strawberry Mojito Pitcher Recipe
Vintage White Porcelain Chinoiserie Koi Fish, Hand Painted Creamer
You say vintage creamer, I say unique cocktail jigger.
Better Homes & Gardens Glass Wine Decanter with Wooden Sphere Stopper
Better Homes & Gardens 15-Ounce Tritan Plastic Wine Goblet, Blue
Genet Natural Rattan Kitchen Cart
Keep the ambiance casual, the settings simple yet elegant, and the guests guessing what decorating and entertaining surprise you’ll pull out of your beach bag of tricks.
Better Homes and Gardens Jute Flower Design Placemat
Going with neutral colors and natural textures take the guesswork out of table setting.
Wood Grain 12″ Round Charger Plate
Thinking outside of the tackle box, I came across this new wicker creel basket and thought what a super cute idea for holding chips, crackers, or breads.
White River Fly Shop Wicker Creel Basket
Copper molds have been, and continue to be, home decor accents “set” on designing spaces and places in the home.
Shrimp Dip
Ingredients
¼ cup milk
1 cup mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 small onion, chopped
2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
½ teaspoon hot sauce (Tabasco) or to taste
8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
1 4 oz. can Bumble Bee tiny shrimp, drained
Directions
Add all ingredients to blender pitcher; blend until combined to desired consistency. Serve cold.
Divided Seafood Oysters Chips and Dip Dish
Vintage Ceramic Heart-shaped Lobster Dish
Great serving pieces for dips, sauces, dressings, and garnishes.
Hearty stacked and stuffed salads featuring fresh seafood can get things started or be main dish delicious.
Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing
Ingredients
4 thick-cut bacon slices
1 head romaine lettuce (about 14 oz.), chopped
2 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and cut into wedges
¾ pound poached or steamed large peeled and deveined shrimp
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes (from 1 pt. tomatoes)
½ cup chopped red onion (from 1 onion)
1 ripe avocado, chopped
4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup)
1 garlic clove, crushed
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon granulated sugar
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Directions
Cook bacon in a skillet over medium, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a plate lined with paper towels, reserving drippings in skillet. Set bacon aside. Pour drippings into a small bowl; set aside to cool slightly.
Reserve 1 bacon slice. Roughly chop remaining 3 bacon slices, and arrange on a large platter with lettuce, eggs, shrimp, tomatoes, onion, avocado, and cheese.
Crumble reserved bacon slice into a food processor. Add garlic, salt, pepper, and sugar; pulse until finely chopped, about five times. Add reserved drippings, olive oil, and vinegar; process until blended. Drizzle over salad; serve immediately.
Arugula Salad With Homemade Orange Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
Flavors in seafood dishes often are enhanced by sides and salads composed of seasonal and regional ingredients that complement the c’est si bon.
Crab Boil With Beer And Old Bay Recipe
Relaxing with a refreshing cool beverage on a hot summer night can be all the theme you’ll need, but if you’re looking for other theme ideas here’s a list of suggestions:
Reelin’, Chillin’ & Grillin’ Summer Nights
Seafood Bake-n-Boil
Nautical and Nice
Tropical Tails
Shrimp on the Barbie Under the Stars
Better Homes & Gardens Woven Faux Rattan Indoor Vase
Building on a theme takes a lot of the guesswork out of selecting chic and stylish accents for tabletops and tablescapes.
Crow Canyon Splatter Cocktail Tray
As far as a tablecloth goes, there’s nothing easier than rolling out the butcher/kraft paper or newspapers.
Sagebrook Home Modern Glam Textured Vase
Dried bouquets are a shoo-in for sea and surf floral finds.
22″ Dried Mixed Floral Toasted Botanicals Bouquet
Deep tones known to serving pieces made from natural materials highlight natural beauty closely associated with sea and sand.
Nested Round Scalloped Jacaranda Wood Bowls, Set of 3
Everyday Decor Fluted Design Wood Decorative Bowl
Baked Stuffed Shrimp Casserole Recipe
Ever wonder why lemon is the seafood plate accessory of choice?
Creole Seasoned Brown Sugar Pecan Topped Baked Tilapia
Novica Handmade Fish Dish In Aqua Celadon Ceramic Lidded Bowl
Hello Honey® 8″ Coastal Carved Fish-Shaped Wood Serving Tray
My grandmother never passed on an opportunity to catch, clean, fry, and serve up a summer fish fry.
Rod and reel or good old cane pole in her left hand, and an umbrella in her right hand.
Fried Catfish
C’est si bon!
Photo by Pim Myten
When the bright bite of fresh meets citrus sweet a flavor balance is born.
Lemon naturally wakes up the sweet and the savory flavors present in seafood and fish.
Matte Stoneware Baker with Lobster Design
Cuisinart Caskata 16qt Enamel on Steel Stockpot with Cover
Roasted, fried, grilled, or boiled-potatoes and corn are must have sides.
This Crab and Lobster Seafood Rolls recipe from Chef Resha at CarnalDish is seafood cuisine of summer scrumptious. Click on the link for the recipe.
Crab Louie Salad
Ingredients
Dressing
½ cup ketchup
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup minced yellow onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon dill pickle relish
2 teaspoons dried dill
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Salad
8 asparagus spears, trimmed
1 medium head green-leaf lettuce, torn
2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
2 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 ripe avocado, sliced
½ medium cucumber, sliced
2 scallions, sliced
½ cup sliced canned pitted black olives, rinsed
¼ cup sliced red onion
6 ounces cooked crabmeat
Lemon wedges for serving
Directions
To prepare dressing: Whisk ketchup, mayonnaise, yellow onion, garlic, relish, dill, horseradish and lemon juice in a medium bowl.
To prepare salad: Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a large pot fitted with a steamer basket. Place a bowl of ice water near the stove. Add asparagus to the pot, cover and steam until tender-crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to the ice bath. Drain and pat dry.
Place lettuce on a serving platter. Arrange the asparagus, tomatoes, eggs, celery, avocado, cucumber, scallions, olives and red onion on top. Top with crabmeat and dollop with half the dressing (reserve the remaining dressing for another use). Serve with lemon wedges, if desired.
Lobster Embossed Ceramic Serving Platter
Egg Harbor (10) 4 oz. Premium Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Season to taste and region.
Shrimp Burgers
Ingredients
1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
¼ cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
salt and black pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
vegetable oil for frying
burger buns
lettuce, tomato, and onion for serving
tartar sauce or your preferred burger sauce
Directions
In a food processor, pulse the shrimp until coarsely ground. Transfer to a large bowl. Add breadcrumbs, egg, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, black pepper, and parsley to the ground shrimp.
Mix until well combined. Form the mixture into patties, about the size of your burger buns.
Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the patties for about 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through. Serve the shrimp burgers on buns with lettuce, tomato, onion, and a dollop of tartar sauce or your chosen sauce.
Creole Shrimp Caesar Salad with Cheesy Croutons
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. canola oil
1 lb. extra-jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1½ tsp. teaspoons creole seasoning (such as Tony Chachere’s)
¾ cup mayonnaise
3 anchovy fillets or 1½ teaspoons anchovy paste
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 oz. Parmesan, grated (about ½ cup), plus more, shaved, for serving
Kosher salt and freshly grated black pepper
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
For cheesy croutons:
8 oz. sourdough bread, torn
¼ c. olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 oz. Parmesan, grated
Directions
Make Cheesy Croutons: Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss together bread, olive oil, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, tossing a few times, until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
Cool 2 minutes then toss with 1 oz. grated Parmesan. Cool completely. (Makes 4½ cups.)
Make shrimp and salad: Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Season shrimp with creole seasoning. Cook, turning once, until just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes; transfer to a plate.
Combine mayonnaise, anchovies, garlic, lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire, and grated Parmesan in a food processor. Process until smooth and well combined, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
Toss together dressing and romaine in a bowl. Top with Cheesy Croutons, shrimp, and shaved Parmesan.
Classic Shrimp Boil Recipe Recipe
Put a southern spin on the seafood spread with a pan of buttermilk cornbread, hush puppies, or cheddar bay biscuits.
Cornbread Pan – Pre-Seasoned Fish Impression Cast Iron on Amazon
Strawberry ice cream will go oh so good with this!
Strawberry Lobster Cake Recipe
From coast to coast, seafood lovers love the wide range of choices on the summer seafood menu.
