Don’t Be a Crab, Eat a Crab

Europe

France

Moules marinière à la crème is a dish that is popular in northern France. It is prepared with mussels, garlic, crème fraîche, parsley, white wine, butter, shallots, and aromatic herbs such as thyme and bay leaves. The mussels are steamed in a covered pot atop butter-sautéed garlic and shallots, with wine and a bit of water.

Greece

Astakomakaronada is a dish from the island of Skyros. The main ingredient is lobster meat in a tomato-based sauce served over pasta. The sauce is enriched with wine and herbs and spices. The lobster meat is served in shells.

Italy

Linguine allo scoglio is a typical southern Italian seafood dish. It is prepared with linguine or spaghetti and a combination of seafood. The seafood includes clams, mussels, shrimps, and sometimes even calamaretti or baby squids. It is flavored with white wine and garlic.

Spain

Arroz con bogavante is a traditional rice dish from Valencia. The rice dish is prepared with round rice like arroz bomba, lobster meat, fish stock, white wine, shrimp, onions, garlic, bell peppers, tomatoes, paprika, saffron, olive oil, and seasonings. Sauté the ingredients in a pan and simmer in stock until fully cooked.

Vieiras en su concha is a traditional dish that originated in Galicia. The dish is made with scallops served in their shells. It is a combination of scallops, olive oil, onions, garlic, pine nuts, white wine, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs, and parsley. In the olive oil, sauté the garlic, onions, and pimenton. Then top with wine, tomato sauce, and seasonings to create a sauce. Broil the scallops and arrange in shells on a baking sheet and top with tomato mixture, breadcrumbs, and parsley and broil until golden.

Portugal

Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato is a dish that was named after the 19th-century poet Raimundo Antonio de Bulhão Pato. The dish is a combination of clams with a sauce made with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and fresh cilantro. White wine can be added to the sauce.

Asia

China

You bao xia, or stir-fried shrimp, is a dish with the whole shrimp stir-fried in a wok until crispy. The crispy shrimp are topped with a savory sauce that is made with chicken broth, black vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and Shaoxing wine. Scallions and ginger slices are used in the cooking process.

India

Chingri Malai curry is a traditional curry that originated in the Bengal regions. It is a combination of coconut milk and prawns seasoned with garam masala spices and fried in ghee or mustard oil with onions, hot chili peppers, garlic-ginger paste, and turmeric.

Malaysia

Sarawak laksa is prepared in a flavorful chicken- or shrimp-based broth seasoned with thick laksa paste. The shrimp is accompanied by vermicelli noodles, shredded omelet, cooked prawns, and shredded chicken. Spicy sambal and lime are traditionally served on the side.

Thailand

Tom Yum is an appetizer and one of the best-known Thai dishes. It is a spicy, sour, and aromatic soup traditionally served with rice. The dish is a combination of shallots, lemongrass, fish sauce, minced fresh ginger or galangal, shrimp, mushrooms, kaffir lime leaves, lime juice, and minced Thai chili peppers.

South America

Brazil

Moqueca Baiana is a delicious seafood stew that originated in the state of Bahia. The stew is made with white fish, shrimp, coconut milk, dende oil, lime juice, and a variety of vegetables like red and yellow peppers, tomatoes, spring onions, garlic, onions, and ginger.

Chile

Machas a la parmesana is a typical Chilean dish that consists of razor clams topped with salt, white wine, butter, and Parmesan cheese. The clams are broiled until the cheese melts. (pictured above)

Peru

Ceviche mixto is a classic appetizer that is a combination of shrimp, squid, octopus, clams, or scallops. The seafood is marinated in lime juice, onions, garlic, celery, coriander, hot chili peppers, and salt.

Conchitas a la parmesana is a traditional dish that is a popular appetizer. The dish is prepared with scallops topped with grated parmesan and placed under the broiler for a few minutes. The cheese is bubbling, but the scallops are almost raw. Before broiling, the scallops are marinated in Worcestershire sauce and lime juice and flavored with salt and pepper.

North America

Mexico

Tacos gobernador were named after a Sinaloan governor. Warm tortillas are filled with shrimp, grated cheese, coriander, onions, and tomatoes. Fold the tortillas, brush with butter, and cook on a griddle. They are served accompanied by lime wedges and hot sauce.

The Caribbean

Jamaica

Peppered shrimp is a Jamaican dish made by cooking whole freshwater or seawater shrimp with Scotch bonnet pepper, garlic, thyme, salt, and a small amount of liquid until the shrimp are coated in a concentrated, spicy mixture.