16 Spring-Ready Seafood Recipes

By Mary Claire Lagroue
February 08, 2021

Spring brings cravings for fresh food and light, bright flavors, which makes delicate seafood a choice protein for the season. Flaky fish, shrimp, scallops, and clams taste extra delightful with crunchy spring vegetables, herbs, and end-of-season citrus. Enjoy it all in these 16 standout recipes. 

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Quick and Easy Baked Fish Fillet

Credit: Buckwheat Queen
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With just five basic ingredients — melted butter, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and minced onion — this recipe for baked flounder will remind you that you can't go wrong with simple.

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Seared Sea Scallops

Credit: Kathikay
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Coated with flour, salt, oregano, thyme, and lemon pepper, these scallops sear to a delicious crisp in olive oil. Take a cue from Kathikay and serve them with pasta and asparagus, as pictured.

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Air-Fried Sesame-Crusted Cod with Snap Peas

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"Perfect as written and a great combination of flavors," Allstar Soup Loving Nicole says. "The cod had a nice crisp on the outside and the inside was tender and flaky. The sesame seeds did not overpower and complimented the snap peas perfectly."

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Creamy Shrimp Pasta Primavera

Credit: Littlechef
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Take this recipe as a testament to the versatility of pasta dishes. Home cook Dave Anderson added cherry tomatoes, basil, and flat-leaf parsley. Home cook Katherine Small added zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers of all colors, and fire-roasted tomatoes — and even used pre-cooked shrimp.

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Baked Fresh Rainbow Trout

Credit: Dan Roden
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Garnished with dill weed, thyme, lemon, and onion, our Baked Fresh Rainbow Trout doesn't take many ingredients or much time (just 30 minutes!) to come together. Recipe submitter In-a-Pickle suggests serving the fish with rice and vegetables.

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Scott Ure's Clams And Garlic

Credit: cookinmama
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Steamed in white wine, garlicky clams pair well with a fresh salad and a starchy side, pasta, fries, or a crusty baguette.

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Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls

Credit: gielastic
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Make a main dish out of fresh, herby spring rolls when you're in the mood for a light meal. Home cook Kim recommends adding slivered cucumbers for crunch. 

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Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto

Credit: Buckwheat Queen
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"Fresh and delicious. Don't let the fear of having to stir keep you from trying this. Risotti are wonderfully easy and this combination won't let you down," Allrecipes Allstar Buckwheat Queen says. "I added zucchini and squash."

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Haddock Citrine

Credit: Kim's Cooking Now
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Marinated in orange juice and breaded with Parmesan, butter, herbs, and orange zest, this subtly sweet baked haddock (or cod) will give your taste buds a pleasant departure from lemony recipes.

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The Best Thai Coconut Soup

Credit: Aja
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If you can't find lemon grass at the grocery store, look for lemongrass paste to give this top-rated, Thai-inspired soup the hint of lemon-floral flavor that compliments seafood so well.

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Chef John's Salmon

Credit: Allrecipes Magazine
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Have restaurant-worthy broiled fish on the table in less than 30 minutes with Chef John's best-rated salmon recipe. "I love finding quick recipes to make during a busy work week," Allstar Happyschmoopies says. "We really liked the flavor of the tarragon with the salmon. It is a little heavier than we normally prepare with salmon, but it was a nice change.

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Mahi Mahi Ceviche

Credit: Angela Smith Lamont
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Mahi-mahi marinates in lemon and lime juice, which "cooks" the fish without heat. The recipe also works well with shrimp, scallops, swordfish, or snapper, Chef John says. And with cilantro, diced avocado and cucumber, radish slices, and orange segments, this dish couldn't get more refreshing.

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Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Shrimp

Credit: bd.weld
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This air-fried shrimp recipe wins over reviewers for its light, zippy flavor and quick prep and cook times — just 15 minutes total! Recipe creator bd.weld suggests serving the shrimp atop a salad or as a cold appetizer.

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Spring Pea Green Curry with Black Cod and Strawberry

Credit: The Gruntled Gourmand
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For an unexpected but especially springy take on green curry, use sugar snap peas as your base. Diced strawberries and a chiffonade of mint round out the dish's mild flavor and create a lovely presentation.

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Chef John's Salmon in Parchment

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You don't have to twice about dinner with Chef John's Salmon in Parchment; this simple recipe factors in side dishes, small potatoes, and asparagus, too. "I served mine with a very light mustard aioli, which was simply mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and a touch of garlic," Chef John says.

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Spring Vegetable Tartine with White Anchovies

Credit: Chef John
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These gorgeous tartines come together in just 30 minutes. If you don't normally go for anchovies, white anchovies (boquerones) taste milder and more delicate, especially when paired with lemony aioli and and raw vegetables like endive, shaved rainbow carrot strips, and thinly sliced radishes.

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Get More Spring Recipes

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Be inspired by spring's freshest produce and proteins with these recipes:

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By Mary Claire Lagroue