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Leite's Culinaria

Light Seafood Dinners, Here We Go!

Published about 2 months ago • 3 min read

Hi Reader,

I never had to be persuaded to love seafood.
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Some people come to seafood later, cautiously, with a fork in one hand and suspicion in the other. I came to it early and naturally, the way one comes to sunlight or sarcasm.
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In a Portuguese family, seafood isn’t exotic, aspirational, or reserved for anniversaries. It’s dinner. It’s memory. It’s good olive oil, garlic, parsley, a hot pan, and the understanding that if the fish is fresh, your job is not to meddle.
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That lesson has served me well.
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Every spring, I start craving seafood in a different way. Less stewing, more searing. Less heaviness, more brightness. Shrimp with lemon. Salmon with herbs. Mussels with white wine. Cod roasted until it flakes at the mere suggestion of a fork. Meals that taste clean, vivid, and entirely in step with the season.
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And perhaps that’s what I love most: seafood asks for attention, not theatrics. Buy it well, cook it properly, stop while you’re ahead.
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A life lesson, frankly.

My Seafood Rules for the Season

  • Start with the best you can find. Freshness does half the cooking.
  • Keep flavors clear. Lemon, garlic, herbs, olive oil, wine—let them support, not smother.
  • Cook boldly, briefly. Seafood rewards confidence and punishes dithering.
  • Use acid at the end. A squeeze of citrus can wake the whole plate.
  • Know when to stop. Overcooked seafood is a heartbreak easily avoided.

WHAT'S INSIDE...

​Mussels In A Creamy White Wine Garlic Sauce​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.79 from 90 votes

Mussels in a creamy white wine garlic sauce is such a quick dish, you almost won't believe that something so devastatingly delish is faster than takeout. Mussels, white wine, cream, lemon, and garlic are just about all it takes.
​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Shrimp Salad From Ina Garten​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.66 from 63 votes

This luscious shrimp salad from the Barefoot Contessa herself--Ina Garten--is made with shrimp, mayo, mustard, vinegar, and more. Excellent for picnics, brunch, showers.
​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Shrimp With Chorizo​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.89 from 18 votes

Shrimp with chorizo is startlingly simple, considering how impressive it is. Shrimp, smoky sausage, garlic, chile, and lemon come together in just about half an hour. Serve it as a main for two—or share it tapas-style with friends.
​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Steamed Halibut With Ginger​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 from 10 votes

If you're looking for quick, easy, and healthy weeknight inspiration, give this steamed halibut with ginger a whirl.
​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Portuguese Clams With Vinho Verde ~ Amêijoas À Bulhão Pato​

This clam dish is a classic. It has a long history in Portugal and for good reason: It's delicious. Portuguese home cooking is distinguished by its gutsy soulfulness. If you're the type who seasons liberally, taste first. This dish is plenty salty and full of flavor.
​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Pan Seared Scallops​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.88 from 24 votes

The secret to these pan-seared scallops in butter is to cook them in a hot skillet with ripplingly-hot oil and occasionally baste them with butter. That's it. Simple, quick, and impressive. Twenty minutes from fridge to table.
​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Pan-Fried Bass With Lemon Garlic Herb Sauce​

Pan-fried bass with lemon garlic herb sauce is a magnificently tasty dinner, that's ready in a snap. Garlic, lemon, thyme, oregano, and white wine make a lush, yet still fresh, sauce that will complement anything you serve with it.
​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Calamari À La Plancha​

Calamari à la plancha is a delightfully crisp and spiced dish, popular in Spain and Portugal. Seared over high heat in cast iron until caramelized, then given a hearty spicing, it's a quick yet impressive meal.
​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​Sticky Honey Garlic Shrimp​

This easy shrimp is made with a sweet-spicy honey and garlic glaze that coats tender pan-seared shrimp. It's a quick meal that's on the table in less than 30 minutes.
​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

​New England Clambake​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 from 15 votes

This New England clambake, made with clams, lobster, Old Bay, sweet corn, and potatoes, is a summer classic that's easy to make at home. No sand or surf required.
​☞ ​Try This Recipe​

Leite's Culinaria

David Leite

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