Shellfish

About

This entry covers bivalves and crustaceans, with oysters treated separately. Mussels and clams have a saltier, stronger flavor than sweet shrimp, lobster, and scallop, while crab falls in between depending on the proportion of deeper-flavored brown meat mixed with the milder white meat. The food writer Alan Davidson noted that crab's white claw and leg meat is similar in flavor and texture to lobster, and while lobster is often more highly regarded and priced far higher, many consider crab comparably good, if not superior.

Pairs well with shellfish

• CiLemonFresh shellfish, whether crab, langoustine, or a mixed platter of fruits de mer, typically needs nothing more than a squeeze of lemon…
• EaPotatoThis pairing underpins whole regional cuisines: New England chowder, Belgian moules frites, Venetian potato gnocchi with spider-crab sauce.
• SuEggDressed crab combines boiled, picked crab meat with egg: the brown meat is mixed with mayonnaise, the white meat is dressed with lemon…
• FrTomatoLinguine alle vongole is served either with tomato (rosso) or without (bianco).
• SuGarlicGarlic dramatically amplifies shellfish flavor, reaching a high point with stewed clams -- as in spaghetti alle vongole, where garlicky…
• WoAlmondBoiled shrimp is often described as nutty, and this note becomes more distinctly almond-like when the shrimp is roasted.
• FrAppleGrating a cold, sharp apple into crab mayonnaise adds a fresh, acidic lift to its richness.
• CrCoconutCoconut-coated deep-fried shrimp is a casual bar snack.
• EaMushroomThe mild sweetness of scallops contrasts well with the deep, earthy intensity of cooked mushrooms, whether porcini or roasted cremini.
• MeBeef"Surf and turf," pairing beef with shellfish such as lobster, is thought to have originated in the U.S.
• MePorkPorco à alentejana, a Portuguese dish of pork stewed with clams, peppers and onions, gets much of its flavor from the clams' briny juice,…
• GrAniseAnise brightens and sweetens shellfish.
• FfVanillaAn unusual pairing popularized by French chef Alain Senderens, credited with first serving lobster in a vanilla beurre blanc, a sauce…
• MeChickenChicken and shellfish appear together across many cuisines: Catalan mar y muntanya (chicken and shrimp in a nut-and-tomato sauce), Spanish…
• BrBaconBacon appears with shellfish in dishes such as clams casino, where clams are topped with a fried mixture of bacon, onion, red bell pepper…
• GrChiliChili crab, a Singapore specialty, is fried with fresh chiles, ginger and garlic, then coated in a sticky sauce of chili sauce, ketchup,…
• GrAvocadoA classic preparation fills avocado halves with seafood, often shrimp, in a Marie Rose-style sauce, homemade mayonnaise mixed with…
• ChHard CheeseA pairing that draws less controversy than fish and cheese generally.
• MeLambThough less common today, lamb and shellfish have historical precedent: lamb was once cooked with cockles, and one…
• CiLimeDeep-fried conch, with a texture between scallop and clam, is often served with a lime-spiked seafood cocktail sauce.
• EaCuminA cumin sauce for shellfish, combined with pepper, lovage, parsley, mint, honey, vinegar and broth, appears in Apicius, the oldest…
• MaOily FishRed mullet balances saltiness, sweetness and a meatiness between the delicacy of salmon and the boldness of mackerel; Pliny compared its…
• GrParsleyRazor clams look intimidating on the beach but yield tender meat once shucked, similar in taste to other clams but more substantial.
• SuCauliflowerCauliflower purée is often paired with seared scallops, its bitterness contrasting with the shellfish's sweetness while echoing the slight…
• FrPineapplePineapple's sweet-sourness paired with shellfish's sweet-saltiness appears in both authentic Southeast Asian dishes and in sweeter…
• WoWalnutA well-known American-Chinese restaurant dish pairs deep-fried shrimp tossed in honey-lemon mayonnaise with candied walnuts, combining…
• RoPeanutSatay sauce turns skewered mussels or large shrimp into a rich dish, while the Brazilian stew vatapá simmers shellfish in a…
• GrCilantroMussels' rich, briny flavor suits the ingredients typically used to balance fish sauce in Thai cooking: cilantro, lemongrass, lime, and…
• BrOliveSalty-sweet shellfish and salty-bitter olives pair naturally, as described by Elizabeth David in an account of freshly boiled prawns and…
• EaCeleryThe New England lobster roll combines lobster meat with mayonnaise and/or melted butter in a soft bun; recipes vary on whether to add…