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 suggestions 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 right now’s recipe, I’m sharing all of the objects 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 unimaginable, however good high quality seafood isn’t low cost!

For this reason 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 subsequent store. As a result of there’s nothing extra disappointing than spending hard-earned cash on costly crab solely to seek out it tastes utterly bland.

So this publish right now is basically our buying listing of what we embody on our seafood platter. Study from all the ideas we’ve 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 right now’s video!

SUMMARY – What we put on our seafood platter

Here’s a abstract listing of what goes on our seafood platter. Please see under sections on the why, why not, and additional suggestions. Be aware: 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. All the things we get is Australian – we particularly guarantee it’s as a result of we all know it is going to 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 under (together with king crab & mud crab recommendation).

5. Sashimi – Kingfish, tuna, salmon are commonest

6. Smoked salmon – Bought 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 best 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 potential. The freshest seafood has by no means been frozen: caught and offered ideally on the identical day. Nonetheless the fact is a few seafood needs to be snap frozen at sea earlier than reaching market and is offered thawed. This contains even cooked prawns on the fish markets throughout Christmas time. Achieved correctly, glorious seafood high quality remains 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 in case you can afford high quality

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

1. Lobster (crayfish) – Not price it except you’ll be able to 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) – Everyone loves the massive meaty crab legs! Whereas they’re offered pre-cooked for comfort, we discover the pre-cooked product very hit or miss. King crab is imported which may additionally play an element 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 put together mud crab). You don’t see typically see frozen or cooked mud crab. If shopping for cooked mud crab, verify with the vendor how recent 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)

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

1. Child octopus – Bought in baggage frozen or uncooked, marinated then BBQ’d till the legs are charred and crispy! Uncommon seafood merchandise that freezes properly.

2. Mussels – Cooked forward and served at room temperature (it’s so nice!). Mussels are a uncommon seafood merchandise that vac packs properly. Our favorite model are Kinkawooka blue mussels (highest quality, juiciest!) – search for the purple bag, offered 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 yr. Recipe coming earlier than Christmas…

4. STANDARD SIDES

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

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

5. GOING THE EXTRA MILE

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

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

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

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

• Retailer purchased potato gems (tater tots) – I’m not even going to fake we try and 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 – A giant, big, assertion foremost.

• Entire Baked Fish – The dill butter sauce is every part….

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

5. seafood sauces

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

1. Household Favorite Seafood Sauce – A household staple. Everyone who’s tried this sauce loves it! It’s basically 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 a success. 🙂

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

3. Cocktail Seafood Sauce – A piquant purple 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 recent sauce various.

Our customary selection 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

Prawns are a reliable favorite in Australia, and we’re blessed with an abundance of wonderful high quality prawns! The three commonest 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, gentle 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 recent, the standard is great. You might additionally purchase them uncooked and boil your self.

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

• Keep away from pre-packaged prawns. They are often much less recent and pungent, beware! If that’s all you will get, take them out properly earlier than serving, give them a great rinse then depart to air dry.

• TOP TIP: Ask for a style check before you purchase!

Moreton Bay bugs – the higher worth lobster

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

We desire to eat Moreton Bay bugs as an alternative of lobster. They style much like lobster but are about 70% cheaper at ~$40/kg. In actual fact, Moreton Bay bugs (and Balmain bugs) are a slipper lobster and are intently associated to rock lobsters, so the flavour similarity isn’t a 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 manner they’re offered, although you will get them uncooked (aka “inexperienced”, on the fitting under) and cook dinner your self (simply boil them).

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

Oysters

Right here in Australia, we’ve two sorts of oysters: Pacific oysters and Sydney Rock oysters. Pacific oysters are usually bigger, with a fleshy, creamy texture. The flavour is clear and gentle. Sydney Rock Oysters are usually smaller, generally with yellow-tinged flesh and have a meatier mouthfeel. The flavour is stronger and extra advanced than Pacific oysters.

I like each of them!

Each these oysters are grown in numerous areas throughout Australia, and the area during which they’re grown impacts high quality and flavour. I’m notably 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 current one I attempted that I loved as properly.

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

Crab

I’ve a weird quantity of knowledge to share about crab! Probably as a result of I like crab but it surely’s costly – and it’s a ache to pick the meat particularly in case you purchase sure varieties. 😂

So right here’s my ideas on crab:

• Blue swimmer crab (~$35/kg) – This Australian favorite is our choice for worth, flavour and high quality so long as they’re on the big dimension (350g/ 12 oz+). Something smaller and the ratio of meat-to-shell is just 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 be good worth however the crab’s anatomy may be very completely different to blue swimmer crabs. The meat is generally within the physique, which is proportionally giant whereas the claws are small and flat. The crab flesh is deliciously candy. Nonetheless it’s fairly nice and extra crumbly than different crabs. Purchase it cooked. You don’t typically see it uncooked.

• King crab – Individuals love king crab due to the extraordinarily meaty legs and claws, and the agency, candy flesh. However it’s costly! We suggest giving frozen cooked king crab a miss. Over time, we’ve discovered it hit or miss, because it’s generally disappointingly flavourless – such a waste of cash 😭. If you need king crab, purchase the raw legs and cook dinner your self. Be aware that king crab is generally imported and as a common rule, this may 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 adore it (particularly Singapore Chilli Crab), however as it’s offered reside it’s fairly costly and you need to cook dinner it your self. You not often see it frozen or pre-cooked. Once we do, we’re suspicious because it’s exhausting to know the way recent the crab was previous to cooking.

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

Sashimi (uncooked fish)

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

There’s no have to get hundreds, 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 appears to be like good or what we really feel like. Kingfish, tuna and salmon are favourites, however we love to combine it up if there are different attention-grabbing fish varieties on supply.

Smoked salmon

A pleasant straightforward one to incorporate on the seafood platter. Everyone 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 numerous debate concerning the sustainability of salmon farming right here in Australia. Nonetheless primarily based 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 current addition to our chilly seafood platter: cooked mussels served at room temperature. It’s so good! They current properly in case you cube up the greens actually small so you’ll be able to 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 had been cooked utilizing this cookbook recipe however this recipe can even work (related). Simply bear in mind to cube up the greens further small for a sublime 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 (truly, crayfish)

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

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

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

Shopping for lobster

If you need lobster in your seafood platter, simply to reiterate what I’ve mentioned a number of instances earlier, be ready to pay high greenback for it – $100/kg+. There may be actually no level shopping for a budget ones (~$10 tails) at grocery shops, they style like nothing! You’re higher off utilizing that finances 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 fitted to inclusion in a seafood platter, together with 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 are usually not 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. 😊

Why we purchase pre-cooked seafood

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

When you’re considering – certainly uncooked seafood I cook dinner myself goes to be higher – it may be true, but it surely’s typically pricier and additional work to arrange!

Really, pre-cooked seafood may 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 recent flavour when it’s at its prime. Prawns are a fantastic instance of this, with most prawns offered at fish mongers right here in Australia offered 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.

I usually don’t purchase seafood from the grocery retailer, simply because I discover the standard isn’t that nice and isn’t all the time dealt with with the care it must 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 quite take pleasure in seafood much less typically and spend a bit extra to get good high quality seafood once I do. That’s simply the best way 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 couple of seafood platter is that it’s basically no-cook, and it’s a chilly foremost which is right for decent 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 bit extra steerage right here, in case you’re . Right here we go:

1. Ice mattress – If we’ve 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 supplies 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. Just a few sprigs of parsley may additionally make it onto the platter – however that’s actually going above and past. 😂

Laying out the seafood

There’s no guidelines for the best way 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 individuals to dip their palms in for a quick clear earlier than diving again in for extra seafood.

How else can I enable you?

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

This and another questions you’ve, please depart them under and we’ll do our greatest to deal with them and replace this publish 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 publish main as much as Christmas Day. As a result of the entire goal of doing right now’s publish is to assist readers who need to put collectively an incredible seafood platter!

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

Watch make it

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

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

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

Seafood Platter

Writer: Nagi

Essential

Australian, Western

Servings8

Faucet or hover to scale

Video above! That is what we placed on our seafood platter. Our choice is to purchase most seafood pre-cooked (boiled at sea) and serve it chilly. See the publish above for why we select these things – it is all about highest quality and finest worth for cash! Sorts of seafood specified are for Australia.High suggestions: Purchase Australian (or domestically caught, wherever you might be on this world) and the place potential purchase recent quite than thawed/frozen (most seafood loses high quality when frozen). Do not buy low cost lobster, it is a complete waste of cash. Get Moreton Bay bugs as an alternative (it is so related, however cheaper) or extra prawns as an alternative. Keep away from shopping for pre-packaged in case you can, it is brisker from open shows!

Components

• ▢ 2 kg / 3 lb entire 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, entire
• ▢ 8 Moreton Bay bugs , pre-cooked in shell, entire (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 (Be aware 5)

Additional dishes pictured in publish and the video

Directions

• Buy all seafood as shut as potential to the serving date. We regularly 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’re fussy, we like to decide on our personal). Maintain refrigerated till able to serve, ideally not in plastic baggage (see publish for really useful storage particulars).

• Crab – To chop the crab, comply with instructions in How you can Lower a Entire Crab besides DO NOT reduce off the claws in case you are utilizing a Blue Swimmer Crab. (See notice)

• Moreton Bay bug – To chop the bug, flip it on to its again. Lower down by the center (the shell isn’t too exhausting). Clear out the yellow and brown matter within the head, then it is able to serve. Recipe video above.

• Sauce – Make your sauces of selection. 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 (elective) – 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 bit of the diced greens and a few reserved mussel cooking liquor.

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

Recipe Notes:

Additional options 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, Entire Baked Fish another seafood or fish recipe – right here’s the full assortment.

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See in publish for extra suggestions and ideas on every merchandise listed. Abstract factors under!

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 right 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 should spend $100/kg+. Don’t trouble with low cost lobster!
4. Crab – Blue swimmer crabs for one of the 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 be nice however all of the meat is within the shell (reduce per similar instructions). Mud crab and king crab – please learn in publish for our view on these (purchase uncooked, be sure 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.

Key phrases: seafood platter

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Lifetime of Dozer

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