Looking for new ways to add flavor to your favorite seafood? There are plenty of herbs and ground spices to give an exciting punch of flavor. Seafood is the perfect way to begin experimenting with flavor and spice blends.
Ground spices offer a way to bring out the natural flavors of fish, shellfish, calamari, and various other seafood dishes. While fresh is still ideal, using the dried, spice form can be very effective. The spice form also last longer and adds more of a concentrated flavor to give your dish the desired pop or subtle hint of flavor.
Spices Most Commonly Used With Seafood:
Garlic
Garlic powder is a good choice for enhancing the flavor of your seafood. Using ground garlic powder, you can add a concentrated flavor that could be used in sauces or marinades.
Basil
Basil is great for fish or shrimp recipes. Use this in herb blends for blackening fish. You can make an excellent marinade for fish with basil and balsamic vinegar. Or how about just a simple grilled fish with lemon and basil
Bay Leaf
Its aroma is perfectly paired with a delicate tasting fish, like tilapia. They are great when used in fish soups.
Cayenne
Consider making a cayenne and garlic sauce for your grilled fish. This would be great with any nice white fish fillets as well.
Cumin
You can add cumin to thyme, paprika and lemon pepper as a spice blend to rub into fish fillets before pan frying. You can also combine cumin with other spices such garlic, coriander and chili powder.
Parsley
This herb has an earthy and somewhat peppery taste that helps add a balance of flavor to dishes with fish. Use it as a garnish and sprinkle it over any kind of seafood. It pairs well with lemon and in a butter-based sauce.
Paprika
Paprika is a useful spice in a variety of ways. Paprika is a unique powder because it’s very mild in heat, but adds lots of flavor and a vibrant pop of color.
Recipe recommendation:
Garlic Lemon and Paprika Tilapia
Rosemary
The combination of rosemary, lemon, and capers are absolutely delicious with white fish. It is both easy and simple to make white fish taste much better.
Recipe Recommendations:
Grilled Rosemary Shrimp
Thyme
Thyme is a herb you should be careful with. Cook with it lightly because the longer you cook it the more pungent the flavor becomes.
Turmeric
Turmeric works well with fish and shellfish dishes.