Seafood Recipes

“You won’t believe this came from a mix-up in my kitchen,” I confessed to my friend as I stirred the pot. It was a late Thursday afternoon, and I’d just realized I grabbed canned coconut milk instead of the evaporated kind I usually use for creamy soups. I was halfway through prepping what was supposed to be a simple fish stew. The sizzle when the onions hit the pan was comforting, but honestly, I was a little worried about how it would turn out. That day, my neighbor, Carlos—who’s usually all about his backyard barbecue—popped over with a bag of … Read more

“You ever have one of those nights when you’re halfway through fixing a leaky faucet, and suddenly your mind drifts to dinner? That’s exactly what happened to me last Thursday. My neighbor, Tony, who moonlights as a plumber, was under my sink, and between tightening bolts, he casually mentioned his grandmother’s shrimp fra diavolo recipe. I wasn’t expecting cooking wisdom from a plumber, honestly, but there I was, scribbling down notes on a crumpled receipt while he rattled off the spicy tomato sauce details.” The sizzle of shrimp hitting a fiery red sauce, the aroma of garlic and chili peppers … Read more

“It was 11 PM on a Tuesday, and all I could think about was the smoky, savory punch of char kway teow,” I remember thinking as I rummaged through my fridge, half asleep but stubbornly craving that exact flavor. I didn’t have half the ingredients a traditional recipe calls for, and honestly, the kitchen was a bit of a mess from the day’s chaos. Somehow, with a bit of improvisation—plus a sprinkle of shrimp I luckily had on hand—I put together what became my go-to version of Singapore Char Kway Teow with shrimp. You know that feeling when a late … Read more

“You ever get that sudden craving for something bright, fiery, and downright refreshing at the same time?” That’s exactly what happened to me one humid Thursday afternoon. I’d just returned from the local farmer’s market, bags full of fresh limes and cilantro, when an elderly vendor named Carlos struck up a conversation about his hometown in Sinaloa, Mexico. He casually mentioned a dish his mother made—something called aguachile, a kind of shrimp ceviche with a serious kick from serrano peppers. I wasn’t expecting much, honestly, but the way he described the tangy, spicy flavors had me hooked before I even … Read more

“You’ve got to try these tacos,” my neighbor Carlos said one humid Thursday evening as he handed me a paper plate with two fish tacos piled high. I was fixing a squeaky hinge on my old kitchen cabinet, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting much—just the usual neighborhood small talk. But the crunch of the crispy fish combined with the tang of the zesty cabbage slaw and that smoky chipotle mayo? It was like a flavor party I didn’t know I needed. I remember dropping my screwdriver (twice) because I couldn’t stop taking bites. This recipe wasn’t handed down through generations … Read more

“I wasn’t expecting culinary wisdom from my taxi driver, but there I was, parked in a traffic jam, listening to his stories about his grandmother’s secret Veracruz red snapper recipe.” That afternoon, the city’s endless honks faded as he described the tangy blend of tomatoes, olives, and capers that made the dish unforgettable. Honestly, I was skeptical at first—fish with olives and capers? But something about the way he painted the picture of those vibrant flavors dancing together stayed with me. Fast forward to the weekend when I finally took a crack at this recipe. I mean, the kitchen smelled … Read more

“You wouldn’t believe it,” my friend Amine said as he flipped one golden parcel in the sizzling pan. It was nearly midnight, and I was visiting his place after a long day when the aroma of something crispy and warmly spiced pulled me straight into the kitchen. That’s when I first tasted Tunisian Brick à l’Oeuf—this deceptively simple snack with egg and tuna tucked inside a delicate, paper-thin pastry shell. Honestly, I was skeptical at first. I mean, a crispy egg pocket? Could it really be that good? But one bite later, I was sold. That night, Amine shared his … Read more

“It was 11 PM on a Tuesday, and all I could think about was something crispy, salty, and a bit smoky,” I confess. Honestly, I didn’t have half the ingredients a traditional Irish boxty recipe calls for, but I had a handful of potatoes, some smoked salmon leftover from a lazy weekend, and a stubborn craving. I started mashing and mixing, got interrupted by a phone call, and somehow, through the chaos, these crispy Irish boxty potato pancakes with smoked salmon were born. You know that feeling when a dish isn’t just food but a little midnight triumph? That’s what … Read more

“You have to try the shrimp,” my neighbor Carlos said, sliding a small plate toward me during a casual Saturday afternoon barbecue. I was more focused on the grill, flipping burgers, but that plate held something else entirely—glistening shrimp bathed in a golden, garlicky sauce. That moment sparked a craving I didn’t know I had. Gambas al Ajillo, or Spanish Garlic Shrimp, wasn’t something I expected to fall for so quickly, but here we are. It was a chilly March evening when I first attempted making this dish myself. I remember fumbling with the garlic press (which I thought was … Read more

“You ever have one of those nights where the power flickers and suddenly your plans go sideways?” That was last Thursday for me. I was halfway through prepping a fancy dinner when the lights blinked out, and I had to scramble with what was left in the fridge and pantry. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much, but what came out of that impromptu scramble was this creamy Tuscan butter scallops with white wine garlic sauce that quickly stole my heart—and my taste buds. It all started when I grabbed the wrong bottle by accident—white wine instead of the usual dry vermouth … Read more