Shrimp pasta

50 Seafood Recipes For Easy Meals

Total time
30 min
Serves
4
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These easy seafood dishes are perfect recipes for weeknight meals or parties! From quick shrimp recipes to baked fish, these seafood meals make cooking with fish and shellfish delicious.

Thinking seafood for dinner? There are so many delicious ways to incorporate seafood into your meal prep. As a Mediterranean diet recipe expert, I’ve come to rely on it as a healthy and delicious lean protein. Now I turn to seafood at least twice a week because these easy seafood dishes come together faster than almost any other protein!

Here’s a list of my favorite simple seafood meals for dinner, starring salmon, shrimp, scallops, tilapia, cod, and tuna. Each recipe is healthy, relatively easy to make, and full of flavor: perfect for nights when you need dinner on the table fast but want something that feels special.

My Top Seafood Recipes For Easy Meals

Shrimp pasta

Creamy Shrimp Pasta

This shrimp pasta is one for the weeknight dinner rotation: juicy, savory shrimp and chewy pasta swim in a creamy sauce. You can use my white wine sauce, bursting with tangy flavor, or my easy cream sauce, a Parmesan sauce that’s actually made with no cream at all. It all comes together in about 30 minutes.

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Baked Salmon

Oven Baked Salmon

This tender salmon fillet is perfectly seasoned with brown sugar and spices and has a lovely crisp topping, a feat for baked salmon which can often turn out mushy and under-seasoned. It’s guaranteed to impress everyone, seasoned with my favorite “magic” salmon seasoning.

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Baked tilapia

Baked Tilapia with Lemon

This tender, flaky fish is covered in a lemon garlic sauce, cozied up with burst cherry tomatoes, Mediterranean seasonings and gooey bits of feta cheese. If you think baked fish sounds boring, this seafood meal is for you! Each bite is savory with just the right pop of brightness.

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Honey Garlic Shrimp

Honey Garlic Shrimp

There’s nothing like the sweet savory combination of honey garlic glaze and juicy shrimp. This simple seafood dish takes only 10 minutes to make. This one is hits all the comforting, satisfying dinner notes with a lightning fast prep speed. 

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Tuscan Salmon

Tuscan Salmon

There are salmon recipes and then there’s this creamy Tuscan salmon. It might result in a few marriage proposals, which is why I also like to call it “Marry Me Salmon.” The tender fish is bathed in a luscious cream sauce with garlic, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, and capers, making each bite bright, salty, and luxurious. 

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Fish tacos

Epic Fish Tacos

These baked fish tacos are always a dinner win. Bake the white fish until it’s flaky with a dry rub of spice, then top it with a tangy slaw and a creamy fish taco sauce. They’re tasty, easy to make, and great for weeknights or dinner parties. Use any white fish like cod, tilapia or Mahi Mahi. Or, try my Grilled Fish Tacos or Cod Fish Tacos.

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Salmon Rice Bowl

Salmon Rice Crunch Bowl

I could eat this seafood dish on repeat every night of the week: my Salmon Rice Crunch Bowls! This tasty bowl of salmon and rice has a few flavor secrets that make extra crave-able. The chunks of tender fish are covered in a salmon marinade that’s savory, garlicky and a little sweet. Combine that with fluffy rice and fresh veggies, then cover it with a spicy mayo to really make it pop. 

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Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp, butter, garlic, lemon, and white wine combine into the classic Italian American seafood dish, shrimp scampi. There’s no right way to make a scampi: it’s a thing of elusive beauty that’s up to the chef to define. But I think this spin is pretty stellar: juicy, garlicky shrimp swimming in a rich, tangy butter sauce.

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Fried tilapia

Fried Tilapia

When it comes to easy and healthy seafood recipes, fish is ideal: it cooks quickly and it’s full of protein and omega 3s. Here, you’ll coat the white fish fillets in seasonings and flour and pan fry them in a bit of olive oil. The tilapia comes out savory and tender with a light crispy coating: in minutes!

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Shrimp Stir Fry

Shrimp Stir Fry

Here’s one of my go-to fast and easy seafood dinner ideas: shrimp stir fry! This one is packed with flavor with a glossy, savory stir fry sauce that coats the juicy shrimp and colorful veggies. Use your favorite vegetables to make a satisfying dinner that pleases everyone around the table. It’s quick to whip up: just add rice or noodles to make it a meal!

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Honey garlic salmon

Honey Garlic Salmon

Picture this: a fillet of salmon with caramelized edges, covered in a sticky sweet honey garlic sauce with hints of ginger and garlic. Each bite is perfectly crispy on the outside, yet tender and flaky inside. This is one of my top seafood dinner ideas and it comes together in just 25 minutes!

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Shrimp and rice recipe

Easy Shrimp and Rice Skillet

This shrimp skillet is one of my favorite seafood dishes: succulent, juicy shrimp sit atop a bed of fluffy rice flavored with garlic, dill and spinach. Give it a good sprinkling of feta cheese and a few spritzes of lemon juice, and it’s a dinner homerun in just 30 minutes.

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Baked Fish

Mediterranean Baked Fish

Baked fish might sound boring until you’ve tried this Mediterranean baked fish recipe! Roast up any white fish with lemon, garlic, and a simple mix of tomatoes, onions and olives. It comes out fork tender with a punchy zip from the lemon and tender vegetables to flavor each bite. 

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How to make shrimp tacos

Quick Shrimp Tacos

These shrimp tacos are one of my personal favorite seafood dinners that’s so simple and pleases everyone! Add chips, salsa, and a classic margarita and I can’t think of much better. What I love about this easy seafood recipe recipe is that it’s both fast family dinner recipe for weeknights and entertaining.

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Seared tuna

Seared Ahi Tuna

Seared ahi tuna is one of the most delicious foods on the planet, and it cooks in less than 5 minutes! Put it together with leftover veggies or rice and you’ve got a quick dinner. Ahi tuna tastes more like steak than fish, so it’s a great place to start for people wary of seafood. The flavor is buttery on the inside and salty savory on the outside. 

Also try: Grilled Tuna

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Shrimp fajitas

Shrimp Fajitas

This shrimp fajitas recipe is a deliciously easy dinner idea: a 30 minute meal full of big flavor! Everyone loves the custom seasoning blend. Eat it with warm tortillas, or in a bowl as a fajita salad!

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Garlic shrimp

Easy Garlic Shrimp

These simple shrimp come out impossibly juicy with the best garlic flavor. The sauce it just the right amount of buttery: deliciously savory but moderate enough to be a healthy dinner idea. It takes under 10 minutes to make, making it the idea quick dinner idea.

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baked halibut recipe

Baked Halibut Recipe

This genius way to cook halibut bakes it until flaky and tender with garlic and lemon, along with capers if you love that salty, briny pop. Once it’s juicy and baked, top it with the secret sauce: finely minced parsley and crispy fried onions, which add a pop of salt, herbaceous flavor and a crunch. V

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Honey glazed salmon

Honey Glazed Salmon

Here’s another dinner idea that gives you a maximum return on time investment: this Honey Glazed Salmon recipe! In under 30 minutes, you’ve got tender, flaky salmon fillets that are bursting with flavor from a sticky glaze of honey, soy sauce, miso and garlic.

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Shrimp fra diavolo

Shrimp Fra Diavolo

Want a quick meal with a little kick? Try Shrimp Fra Diavolo! This Italian-style dish stars tender shrimp that swim in a garlicky, spicy tomato sauce. Fra diavolo means “brother devil” in Italian, alluding to the intense heat of this dish. But make it homemade and you can customize the spiciness to taste!

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Miso salmon

Miso Salmon

Here’s a fun dinner idea that’s simple and flavor-packed: miso salmon! I love using miso to make kitchen magic, since it adds a salty, savory flavor to everything it touches. Here it stars in my miso glaze that’s punchy and glossy.

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Salmon caesar salad

Salmon Caesar Salad

Here’s an easy dinner that’s basic but satisfies every time. It stars tender, perfectly seasoned chunks of salmon nestled with bursts of crunchy romaine, juicy cherry tomatoes and crunchy croutons. It’s all covered in my creamy homemade Caesar dressing.V

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Grilled shrimp

Perfect Grilled Shrimp

Shrimp is one of the fastest things you can cook on the grill: it takes less than 5 minutes to cook! This grilled shrimp comes out juicy and perfectly seasoned, making it the ideal quick dinner with broccoli and rice. Also try my Grilled Shrimp Skewers.

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Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

There’s nothing better than a crispy breaded piece of fish, and this Parmesan Crusted Tilapia is no exception! This simple way to prepare fish fillets has a big impact. The exterior is crunchy and perfectly seasoned with savory Parmesan and crunchy breadcrumbs, and the interior is tender and flaky.

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Image for Baked Cod with Lemon

Baked Cod with Lemon

This delicious baked cod recipe features tender white fish in a zesty lemon garlic sauce that comes together in just 30 minutes. Here are my tips for how bake cod perfectly for flaky, flavorful results.

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Cajun salmon

Blackened Salmon

My Blackened Salmon is so flavor filled, you’ll feel like you ordered it at a restaurant. The cooking process takes just 5 to 8 minutes. The homemade blackened seasoning has a savory intrigue and makes a crispy black crust on the outside of the fish. Or, try my Cajun Salmon for a spicier spin.

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Shrimp fried rice

Shrimp Fried Rice

This simple shrimp fried rice tastes like your favorite takeout. The garlic, ginger and soy sauce meld perfectly with the colorful veggies, bursts of shrimp and gooey bits of egg. It’s one of my favorite seafood recipes for weeknight cooking and especially great if you have leftover rice on hand.

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Pesto salmon

Pesto Salmon

Bright green basil pesto goes hand in hand with tender baked fish to make a stunning dinner. The savory, garlicky sauce makes the flaky fish pop and looks beautiful on top. It’s easy enough for a weeknight, but impressive enough to serve to guests. Or, try my even quicker Easy Pesto Shrimp.

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Paella Recipe

Seafood Paella

Here’s a fun one pan seafood recipe: paella! This traditional Spanish rice dish is based on my travels through Spain. It stars saffron-scented rice, mixed colorful vegetables and shrimp, and it’s full of traditional flavor. 

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Broiled salmon

Quick Broiled Salmon

With broiled salmon, you don’t even need to preheat your oven! Broil it for 7 to 10 minutes until cooked through. Easy as that! While it broils, I highly recommend making this lemon caper sauce, which makes the fish sing with tangy and briny flavor!

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Scallop pasta

Scallop Pasta with Lemon & Herbs

Whether you want to impress dinner guests, have a romantic dinner, or just feed your family on a weeknight: this recipe is the perfect fit. The seared scallops are sweet, buttery and delicate, set atop tender pasta and accented with flavors of lemon, garlic and herbs.

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Cilantro Lime Shrimp

Cilantro Lime Shrimp

This seafood dish takes only 10 minutes to make and comes out beautifully tangy and fresh! It pairs perfectly with Mexican-style flavors: serve it with rice, an avocado salad, or in tacos. Or make it into a main dish salad topped with my cilantro dressing. 

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Poke bowl recipe

Poke Bowl

Here’s a popular seafood recipe: the poke bowl! This Hawaiian bowl of seasoned raw fish, rice, and crunchy veggies is simple to make at home for a weeknight meal, or even better for a dinner party. Also try my Ahi Poke or this cooked Salmon Poke Bowl.

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Salmon Bites Recipe

Easy Salmon Bites

Have you ever tried slicing salmon into pieces before cooking? It makes perfectly seasoned bites that are simple to eat and perfect for serving over salads or in a bowl meal. As a bonus, they’re great for kids, making it a meal the entire family will love!

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Mahi mahi recipe

Easy Mahi Mahi Recipe

This mahi mahi is simply pan-fried with lemon, garlic and herbs until it’s tender and juicy. It’s got a short ingredient list and is quick to whip up as a tasty main dish.

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Shrimp Burger

Shrimp Burger

Why not try a shrimp burger? Turns out, these succulent shellfish make a surprisingly juicy and satisfying patty. Slathered with a creamy sauce and served up on a bun, it’s a hearty meal that pleases everyone.

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Shrimp nachos

Shrimp Nachos

Here’s a fun variation on nachos starring my favorite seafood! It makes the best fun appetizer or simple dinner atop crunchy tortilla chips with a confetti of colorful toppings. You don’t even need to cook the shrimp separately on the stove: throw them on top of the chips and bake.

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Swordfish Recipe

Easy Swordfish Recipe

Try this flavor-packed easy swordfish recipe! The meaty, tender flesh shines when it’s coated in spices and simply pan-fried with garlic, butter and lemon. Top with briny capers for a salty pop, and it makes for a simple and memorable meal.

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Lemon dill salmon

Lemon Dill Salmon

This lemon dill salmon is fast, easy, and even fancy enough for a dinner party! It’s flaky and savory, topped with a zingy lemon dill sauce. This healthy seafood recipe is so easy and versatile, it could really work anytime: for parties or quick dinners!

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Shrimp pesto pasta

Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Here’s a seafood recipe that’s a fast and easy dinner: shrimp pesto pasta! Coat long noodles in silky basil pesto, then add juicy, succulent shrimp. The garlicky pesto is the perfect pair for the savory pop of shrimp, making a fun and simple weeknight meal.

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Pan fried cod

Pan Fried Cod

Cod is a beautifully mild and buttery-flavored fish. Coat it in paprika and a few other spices, then pan fry it until tender and juicy. It takes under 10 minutes to get restaurant-quality flavor! Serve it with the pan juices drizzled over the top with rice to soak up the juices.

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Cajun Shrimp

Easy Cajun Shrimp

Shrimp are one of the simplest ways for a fast and easy dinner. Toss the shellfish with little Cajun seasoning and sauté them up in olive oil in a skillet. The flavor is so savory and garlicky in just a 5 minute cook time.

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Shrimp and broccoli

Shrimp and Broccoli

Here, shrimp and broccoli are cooked with soy sauce and and rice vinegar until bright and savory. Serve it with rice or noodles to make it a complete meal that comes together quickly! Dinner can be on the table in just 20 minutes.

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Grilled Salmon

Perfect Grilled Salmon

Meet my perfect grilled salmon! It’s an easy method and comes out tender with a lightly crisp crust. Even better, my magic salmon seasoning tastes so good, you’ll want to put it on everything!

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Pan seared scallops

Pan Seared Scallops

Scallops have a beautiful, mild sweet flavor that’s easy to love, and there’s nothing better than that perfect seared crispy outside.  It takes a little know how to get that golden brown crust without under cooking or overcooking them, but do it right and it’s one of the best seafood recipes around.

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Salmon with capers

Salmon with Capers

This easy healthy seafood dinner recipe stars baked salmon infused with lemon and herbs and cooked until it’s perfectly moist. It’s drizzled with a silky butter sauce made with garlic and capers. Just a small drizzle packs a huge punch!

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Shrimp curry

Shrimp Curry

There is so much flavor going on in this cozy bowl: rich coconut milk, aromatic curry paste, tangy lime, and juicy shrimp. Serve it over jasmine rice, and it’s a healthy seafood recipe done in less than 30 minutes.

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Broiled shrimp

Broiled Shrimp

This broiled shrimp is tender, juicy, and so fast to cook. You don’t even need to preheat the oven! It’s seasoned with garlic and lemon. Make it with or without a breadcrumb coating, which adds a satisfying crunch. Also try my Easy Baked Shrimp.

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Blackened shrimp

Blackened Shrimp

Blackening is a Cajun cooking technique that’s all about the spices. Combine homemade blackened seasoning with grilled or pan-fried shrimp, and you’ve got a mix of savory, herbal, and salty flavors! You can grill it or cook on the stove, so it works for easy weeknight meals or grilled dinners on the patio.

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Grilled tilapia

Easy Grilled Tilapia

Last but not least: grilled tilapia! If you’re looking for a healthy seafood recipe, this flaky fish is bursting with savory, smoky flavor from the grill. Top it with sweet and tender blistered cherry tomatoes, and it’s a great meal idea for entertaining or even a weeknight. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What seafood is easiest to cook?

Shrimp is the easiest seafood for beginners: it cooks in about 3 minutes per side and turns pink when it’s done. Salmon fillets and mild white fish like cod and tilapia are next, since they bake or pan fry in 10 to 15 minutes.

Can I cook frozen fish without thawing it?

No, you should always thaw fish before cooking.

How do I thaw frozen seafood quickly?

Place sealed shrimp or fillets in a bowl of cold water for 15 to 30 minutes, changing the water once if needed. Never use hot water. Overnight in the refrigerator works too. Here’s my full guide on how to thaw shrimp.

What is a good side dish with seafood?

Rice, lemon orzo, roasted potatoes, or crusty bread are starch ideas, or try a green salad recipe, roasted broccoli, or sauteed green beans. See my favorite sides for salmon and side dishes for shrimp for more ideas.

How do I know when fish is done?

Fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork and the center is just opaque. If using a thermometer, aim for 130 to 140°F for salmon (depending on preference) and 145°F for white fish.

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Creamy Seafood Pasta

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This shrimp pasta recipe is easy to make with the best big flavors: garlic, lemon, and Parmesan. It’s a home run dinner idea that’s always a hit!

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Mediterranean Diet, Pescatarian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound large shrimp, deveined (tail on or off, wild caught preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon each smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 recipe White Wine Sauce or Parmesan Cream Sauce
  • 8 ounces spaghetti
  • Finely chopped Italian parsley, to garnish
  • Lemon wedges, to garnish

Instructions

  1. If frozen, thaw the shrimp.
  2. Cook the pasta: Start a pot of well salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta until it is just al dente. Start tasting a few minutes before the package recommends: you want it to be tender but still a little firm on the inside; usually around 7 to 8 minutes. Drain the pasta. (If it finishes before the sauce, add it back to the pot with a drizzle of olive oil so it doesn’t stick.)
  3. Cook the shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry. In a medium bowl, mix the shrimp with the spices. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on medium high heat. Cook the shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes per side until opaque and cooked through, turning them with tongs. Set them aside.
  4. Make the sauce: Wipe out the skillet. In the same skillet make the White Wine Sauce or Parmesan Cream Sauce (takes about 10 minutes).
  5. Serve: When the sauce is done, add the noodles to the skillet with the sauce. (For the Cream Sauce only, add a splash or two of milk to loosen the sauce and come to just the right creamy consistency.) Then add the shrimp and toss until it’s warmed through. Taste and a few more pinches of salt, if necessary. Remove from the heat. Garnish with finely chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Serve immediately.

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Recipes by Alex & Sonja

We're Alex & Sonja Overhiser: cookbook authors, busy parents, and a real life couple who cooks together. Since 2010 we've shared simple, seasonal recipes from our home kitchen, every one tested on our family and photographed by us.

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3 Comments

  1. Travis Emory says:

    Crazy Crappie Pockets: Chopped crappie fish, breadcrumbs and egg meshed together wrapped in dough, glazed in honey, deep fried. then drizzled in mixture sauce containing, cream, butter, cream cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, soy sauce, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, duck sauce, sour cream, horseradish, honey

  2. Elaina D'Agostino says:

    I liked the dish shrimp and broccoli. I agree that the crisp broccoli would work well with the juicy shrimp. Hopefully, the local seafood restaurant offers a dish like this. I’d love to give it a try since I love both of the main ingredients, but I never tried cooking them together before.

  3. Charlie Rosen says:

    Very good Charlie Rosen approved.

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