Essential Chinese Seafood Recipes for Your Dinner Table

Chinese cuisine is celebrated for its rich flavors and diverse ingredients, with seafood playing a prominent role. Whether you're a seafood lover or looking to explore Chinese gastronomy, integrating seafood into your dinner table can elevate your meals significantly. Here, we present essential Chinese seafood recipes that are sure to impress your family and friends.

Szechuan Spicy Shrimp

Spicy, bold, and savory, Szechuan spicy shrimp is a popular choice that brings the heat to your dinner table.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 tablespoons Szechuan peppercorns
  • 3 tablespoons chili paste
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 green onions, chopped

Instructions:

  1. Heat sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add Szechuan peppercorns and garlic, stirring until fragrant.
  3. Incorporate shrimp and cook until they turn pink.
  4. Add chili paste and soy sauce, stirring well.
  5. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve hot.

Steamed Fish with Ginger and Soy

This dish highlights the delicate flavors of fish, enhanced by aromatic ginger and soy sauce.

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole fish (like tilapia or sea bass)
  • 2 inches fresh ginger, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 green onions, cut into lengths
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Salt to taste

Instructions:

  1. Clean the fish and score the skin lightly.
  2. Place ginger and green onions inside the cavity of the fish and sprinkle with salt.
  3. Steam the fish for about 10-15 minutes until cooked through.
  4. Drizzle with soy sauce and hot vegetable oil before serving.

Sweet and Sour Crab

This classic dish combines the sweetness of sugar and the tanginess of vinegar, making for a delightful seafood experience.

Ingredients:

  • 2 crabs, cleaned and cut into pieces
  • 1 cup pineapple chunks
  • 1/2 cup bell peppers, diced
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Instructions:

  1. In a pan, stir-fry the crabs until partially cooked.
  2. Combine sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce in a bowl and mix well.
  3. Add the mixture to the pan with crabs, along with pineapple and bell peppers.
  4. Simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and crabs are fully cooked.

Garlic Butter Lobster

Indulge in a luxurious treat with this simple yet gourmet-style garlic butter lobster recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 2 lobsters, halved
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Melt butter in a pan and add garlic, sautéing until golden.
  3. Brush the lobster meat with the garlic butter mixture, seasoning with salt and pepper.
  4. Place lobsters in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.
  5. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.