The Japanese suffer less heart attacks and cholesterol problems than many other nationalities. The Bengalis in India stay lean and healthy and they share a common feature with many other people staying near the sea. They love seafood and call them ‘flowers of the sea’. Indeed, the oceans present us with a variety of delicacies that are also healthy. Just like the flowers, many fish and crustaceans are seasonal while some are for all the year round.
Refrigerated and fast supply chain ensures that supermarkets and online vendors are able to provide fresh fish and any of the seafood variety. Only concern for consumers is the level of mercury and other toxins found in fish. Therefore, fresh fish are to be purchased only from reputed vendors. The seafood variety ranges from fish like tuna, salmon and sardine to the slightly unusual like the blackened catfish cooked with pineapple or vegetable and herbs.
Delicious, tasty, healthy, good for the heart and gourmet food are some of the words and phrases used to describe the delicacies and justifiably so. Diversity in fish species ensures that you can enjoy sauteed tilapia, pan-grilled wild salmon or bass and grilled grouper.
This seafood varieties extends to oysters, clams, crabs, lobsters, shrimps and scallops. Who can resist a dish of seared scallops, grilled shrimps or steamed mussels. But the heavenly alaskan king crab legs occupy the top rung of the ladder. The leg meat is available already cooked and frozen, and you have to just thaw, rinse and steam heat before eating. Boiling or baking them is also common.
There are varietis of King crabs in red, golden and blue, with red tasting the sweetest and blue yielding more meat. Golden is usually smaller than the other two. Relish the meat of alaskan king crab legs by dipping it in a bowl of hot melted butter, interspersed with sips of white wine to complete the delight. Then relax with contentment for such a delightful meal. But do try to wipe off that satisfied grin on your face.
Should you believe that stuffed quahogs are exotic dish, you are way off the mark. Quahogs are just a type of clams with round shell. They can be stuffed with all sorts of vegetables, herbs and sauces and even with crabmeat and baked, steamed, sauteed. You can have them as appetizers or as side course.
Tuna, salmon, sardine and all other fish varieties are health food provided they do not contain mercury and other toxins from polluted waters. Sauteed tilapia, pan-grilled wild salmon and grilled grouper are tasty and healthy. The seafood variety extends to oysters, clams, crabs, lobsters, shrimps and scallops and includes delicious dishes like quahogs and alaskan king crab legs. The cooked legs taste delicious and can be savored by dipping in a bowl of melted butter and accompanied by white wine. Stuffed quahogs can be baked or steamed and are excellent as appetizers or as side course.
- Matthew Lewis