With seasonal options for any occasion, seafood rice recipes can answer a need for homey comfort food, peppy bites or crowd-pleasing fare. Dishes that hail from every corner of the globe, they can also handle any type of flavoring you fancy—whether that’s the pungency of a fiery Thai curry or the herbal freshness of a Norwegian soup.
One of the cornerstones of any delicious meal, rice is a versatile ingredient that’s universally loved. When it comes to pairing it with protein, it’s time to branch out beyond chicken and steak, with quick-cooking seafood! From sweet shrimp and lobster to flaky fish, seafood is a broad category with a wealth of delectable options that are simple to prepare and add sophistication to any plate. Ingredients you can turn to on busy weeknights, they also lend themselves to elegant dinners, when you want your cooking to impress.
Whether you’re sautéing, grilling, frying or baking, invite seafood into your home and shake up your usual routine. Choose the freshest ingredients you can buy—they should not have a fishy smell— and set aside any fears you have about seafood being overly expensive or difficult to cook. Though some options can be pricey, most supermarkets offer deals on fresh and frozen seafood, making it as accessible as other proteins. It can also be prepared as easily as other proteins, meaning that there’s no reason not to give it a try!
This month, spark joy in your kitchen with seafood and rice recipes! Built on a fluffy, flavorful foundation of RiceSelect® rice, they’ll be easy to prepare, surprising and a welcome change from your go-to meals. From straightforward to bougie, inspired by a range of locales, they’re just what hungry diners crave.
Wine Poached Halibut with Celery Root Puree
One of the easiest ways to prepare fish, poaching yields moist, flavorful fillets that flake easily with the softest pressure from a fork. In this stunning entrée for four, poached halibut is paired with silky celery root and RiceSelect® Texmati White made with bacon and sautéed greens. Complex yet effortless, it’s a seafood and rice dish that’s guaranteed to wow.
Ceviche
Turn lime-soused white fish into a full meal, with this hearty take on ceviche! Featuring fresh fruit, avocado, and herbed RiceSelect® Royal Blend® Rice, this dish is a novel riff on the classic that makes for a light and lively lunch or dinner.
Curry Risotto Baked Salmon
Flavored with coconut milk, curry powder, and Thai red curry paste, RiceSelect®Arborio Rice cooks into a striking risotto unlike any you’ve ever had! Pair it with simple baked salmon fillets for a dinner that’s easy but exciting. Not a fan of salmon? Try white fish, sautéed shrimp, or scallops instead.
Spicy Salmon and Avocado Tower
Impress guests with this layered delight featuring fish, herbs, avocado, and aromatic RiceSelect® Jasmati Rice. An elegant dish that looks the part—despite coming together in three simple steps!—this is ideal for a shower, brunch, or daytime get-together. Dress the greens in the sweet and spicy citrus dressing just before serving.
Seafood Risotto
Sea kelp, fish broth, and a boatload of seafood flavor every grain of RiceSelect®Arborio Rice in this classic dish. A restaurant-quality choice for guests or date nights, every mouthful will transport you to Italy’s coast. We love the depth of flavor that we get by using scallops, clams, shrimp, and calamari in this dish but, if you prefer, simplify things by using just one or two types of seafood.
Easy Paella
Though “easy paella” might sound like an oxymoron, we promise that this vibrant dish can be ready in just 45 minutes! A must-try when you’re craving something out of the ordinary, this saffron-scented RiceSelect®Arborio Rice dish is guaranteed to fit the bill. With a tempting blend of chicken, andouille sausage and shrimp, plus pimientos, red bell pepper and olives, it’s a one-dish meal that’s layered, intriguing and that won’t leave you with a pile of dishes to clean!
Royal Seafood Bake
A seafood and rice casserole that practically cooks itself, this one is for nights when you want to eat well, without much effort. Though we recommend RiceSelect®Royal Blend® Rice, for the nutty flavor of its multi-grain mix, you’ll get equally delicious results from any type of RiceSelect®Rice that you have on hand.
Thai Fried Rice with Shrimp and Pineapple
Plump shrimp are a satisfying, quick-cooking addition to this peppy RiceSelect®Jasmati Rice dish. Though the ingredient list may look long, it includes an accessible array of aromatics, veggies and pantry staples you likely already have on hand. Gather them on the counter before you begin, and dinner will be on the table before anyone even has time to ask if it’s ready!
Shrimp Jambalaya
Inspired by the Louisiana classic, this RiceSelect®Royal Blend® Rice main is dotted with onion, celery and bell peppers—the “holy trinity” of Cajun and Creole cuisine. Spicy and saucy, flavored with herbs, paprika, cayenne and habanero pepper, this dish is a delicious ode to tradition that’s sure to be welcome any night of the week.
Summer Lobster and Corn Risotto
Wait patiently until summer to make this sophisticated dish, and you can improve every mouthful with sweet and juicy, in-season corn. Stirred into creamy RiceSelect®Arborio Rice, along with softened leeks, prosciutto, and delicate morsels of poached lobster, it becomes a memorable, restaurant-worthy dish. At other times of year? They won’t yield the same results, but frozen kernels are an appropriate substitute.
Tips for Cooking Seafood Rice Recipes Successfully
The best seafood and rice recipes sing with the subtle flavors of the ocean, pairing fish and shellfish with savory, satisfying grains. Keep these tips in mind when making your masterpiece:
· Rather than cook your rice in water, try using fish or seafood stock for a deeper flavor. You can even make your own by simmering fish bones, shrimp or lobster shells with aromatics and herbs, then straining before continuing with your recipe.
· In general, it’s easier to overcook seafood than to undercook it so try to resist the urge to add seafood at the start of a recipe. Some seafood, such as shrimp clams and mussels, takes just minutes to cook. Though thick cuts of fish will take longer, thinner fillets only need a few minutes per side.
· For optimal texture in your rice, let it steam in the pot before opening. This allows the rice to absorb any remaining moisture before it’s fluffed and combined with other ingredients.
· Knowing what type of rice goes best with seafood often depends on the dish that you are making. When making risotto or paella, for instance, you’ll get the creamiest results if you reach for starchy, medium-grain RiceSelect® Arborio Rice. On the other hand, for light, fluffy dishes, such as curries and fried rice, you’ll want RiceSelect® Basmati or Texmati Rice. RiceSelect® Black Rice offers drama and nutty notes to a range of seafood dishes.
· Seafood has a relatively mild flavor which can be enhanced with myriad herbs, spices and seasonings. Depending on the style of dish you’re making, you might want to reach for lemon, dill, parsley, Old Bay, or paprika. Some seafood and rice dishes will call for bolder flavors, found in curry pastes, lemongrass, ginger and more.
Ready to dive into an ocean of seafood and rice recipes with RiceSelect® Rice? Explore more delicious ideas today!