July 30, 2009

Fresh Shellfish Can Be Enjoyed Many Ways

By Shannon Linnen

A wonderful thing to eat all year round is fresh shellfish. It includes clams, scallops, mussels and more. Farm-raised cultured mussels are fresh and readily available. Wild varieties are equally delicious. Clams are a very popular addition to pasta dishes. Hard clams, also called quahogs, live in sandy coves and can be caught when the tide is low. A great dish to enjoy with butter and garlic is stuffed quahogs. And there is always clam chowder of course.

In the summer, fresh shellfish will take your mind off the hot weather. For a light yet delicious meal, consider an appetizer of raw or barbequed oysters. These tasty treats can be bought in most markets as well as chosen farms that specially breed them to sell. If you are lucky enough to live by a port or in a town near the ocean, you will probably find oysters easily and for an affordable cost.

The scallops are meatier than clams and require very little preparation. Sea scallops are delightfully large, though must be shucked (removed from their shells) almost immediately after capture to ensure they don't lose moisture and die. It is important not to overcook scallops, or you will end up with a chewy, inedible taste.

Mussels come with blue-black shells and brown hairs called byssal threads attached to their shell. Their meat is usually an orange color and they are full of protein. As with clams, mussels taste best steamed and should remain encased in their shell until cooking.

Other fresh shellfish can also be crabs and lobsters. Compared with their small brethren, lobster and crab are bigger and more substantial. Of all fresh shellfish, lobster is undoubtedly the priciest but then it is a cuisine favored by both high-end restaurants and gourmets alike.

Crab is one of the more popular varieties of shellfish, bought and eaten by a large number of people. This has made the crabbing a multi-million dollar industry. Tools have been specially designed to make cracking the shells of crabs easier and with these tools at hand; eating crab is no longer a messy and difficult affair. Once you have tasted the meaty goodness of crab legs, this fresh shellfish will be sure to become one of your favorites.

Living a healthier lifestyle is becoming more and more difficult. Food items purchased at the local grocery are not necessarily all that good for you. The packaging may look great but the contents could be worse than you think. This is not an issue with fresh shellfish or other fresh seafood items. The ocean is the perfect nursery to grow these healthy and tasty critters. Keep your healthy lifestyle on track and satisfy your tastebuds with fresh shellfish on a regular basis.

You no longer have to live in close proximity to the ocean or coast, you can get fresh shellfish no matter what. Online vendors now deliver fresh shellfish, crabs, lobsters and much more overnight. Straight from the ocean to your front door. Quality Fresh Seafood specializes in this and uses Fedex to overnight your seafood order. - 27105

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