Seafood Archives — Bless this Mess

October 15, 2018

Instant Pot Shrimp Boil

Quick and easy Instant Pot Shrimp Boil made with potatoes, corn, shrimp, sausage, and just a few simple seasonings.

Have you ever had Shrimp Boil? Sometimes it’s also called Low Country Boil or Cajun Shrimp Boil, too. I love it! I grew up going to the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama and this was a favorite meal to eat along the coast. Now anytime we leave the desert in search of some ocean waves, I make a point to find a good shrimp boil place. I introduced my kids to the wonder that is shrimp boil this summer and they begged me to recreate it at home for them. I obliged!

Shrimp boil is fun because it’s all spread out on the table or in a big tray and you just pick and eat what you want. You can dip it in delicious butter, add a little hot sauce, give it a squeeze of lemon. It’s just a whole lot of fun eating communally with your fingers. It doesn’t hurt that there’s plenty of shrimp and potatoes involved, too (favorites of my kids).

I loved using my Instant Pot to make shrimp boil because it really helps to infuse the potatoes with lots of flavor, plus, it’s fast and really hands off. The perk of using the Instant Pot is that it’s a set-it-and-forget-it kind of appliance.

So now when you are craving a trip to the beach, but are stuck at home, you can have a delicious fun meal to remind you of the sand and surf.

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July 27, 2017

Garlic Butter Baked Salmon in Foil

Quick and easy Garlic Butter Baked Salmon in Foil with broccoli and cauliflower makes an easy dinner recipe that is done in about 20 minutes.

Long live super simple dinner recipes that are easy to make, delicious, healthy, and a breeze to clean up! If any of those factors sounds like a good dinner in your book than you are going to love this recipe for garlic butter baked salmon in foil. There’s something magical about making a “packet dinner,” and salmon baking in a foil packet is no exception. The fish comes out moist and tender, the vegetables are steamed inside until they are tender crisp, and the simple garlic butter on top melts right into everything, making one delicious meal in a matter of minutes.

My kids eat and love seafood as often as they can get it. We don’t buy it often but when we do have it, it’s a treat we all enjoy. I often grill up fish fillets in the summer and these salmon foil packets are just as easy. Bonus – you can bake or grill them, making it really convenient any time of the year.

Tips and Tricks for making Garlic Butter Baked Salmon in Foil:

The fresh lemon is a must – don’t skip it! You need 2 lemons: one to slice and bake with the fish and a second to cut into wedges for serving.
You can use just about any fresh herbs that you might have on hand. I use parsley, oregano, and basil most often (a combination of all three is great).
I just got this mini utensil set and love them! The little brush is just the right size for the butter in this recipe. We use the little spoons/scrapers/spatulas to get the last of the yogurt/applesauce/ketchup out of the bottom. They’d make a great gift or stocking stuffer. 🙂
Quick dinner tip: if your fish fillets are frozen individually, you can easily thaw them in a bowl of warm water in about 30 minutes.
This is really great served with some seasonal fruit and a load of my favorite no knead crusty bread or Santa Fe Rice. Both are great options.

Craving more? Subscribe to Bless this Mess to get new recipes, meal plans, and a newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! Leave a comment, pin it, and don’t forget to tag a picture #blessthismesseats on Instagram. I love to see your kitchen skills in action!

Garlic Butter Baked Salmon in Foil

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

Quick and easy Garlic Butter Baked Salmon in Foil with broccoli and cauliflower makes an easy dinner recipe that is done in about 20 minutes.

Author: Melissa
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 10 min
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: Serves 4
Category: Dinner
Method: Oven
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter or olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1-2 tablespoon fresh herbs, optional
8 lemon slices
4 salmon fillets, 4 to 6 ounces each (with or without skin)
2 cups bite-size broccoli florets
2 cups bite-size cauliflower florets
Salt and pepper
Aluminum foil
lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

In a small microwave-safe bowl, microwave the butter, garlic, and herbs until the butter is melted and the garlic fragrant, about 30 seconds. (This can also be done on the stove-top)
Tear off 8 sheets of foil about 12 -14 inches long. Double up the foil by stacking two pieces on top of each other so you are working with 4 sets of foil – 2 pieces each. Brush a bit of the butter mixture in the center of each set of foil and place two slices of lemon on top of the butter.
Evenly distribute the salmon fillets, broccoli, and cauliflower between each of the foil packets. Brush the additional butter over the vegetables and fish. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Draw two opposite ends of the foil up and fold it over and then fold each end (you want to seal the food inside, making a packet).
Place foil packets on a baking sheet and bake in a 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes until the fish is cooked through. Remove from the oven when fish is cooked through.
Carefully open the foil packets and enjoy while still hot. Serve with additional lemon slices.

Notes

You can use just about any fresh herbs that you might have on hand. I use parsley, oregano, and basil most often (a combination of all three is great).
You can also grill these salmon packets over medium to medium-high heat for 12 to 15 minutes until the fish is cooked through – a great option to keep the oven off in the summer.

Keywords: easy salmon recipe, salmon in foil, healthy dinner ideas, how to bake salmon

Fresh, easy, and fast – just what all busy moms need in their life! Needing a little more quick dinner inspiration? One Pot Baked Ziti and Chicken Street Tacos are always on my go-to list!

February 22, 2017

Shrimp Noodle Stir Fry

This Shrimp Noodle Stir Fry is full of veggies and done in under 30 minutes making it a perfect weeknight meal!

For the past few months, my kids have had a major bee in their bonnets about ramen noodles. On different occasions they tried them at friends’ houses and decided that they need those simple little noodles in their life. Ramen is something that I stopped buying years ago when we stopped eating things with MSG in them. When it came to cleaning up our diet, I would generally replace a store-bought item with ingredients I didn’t want with a homemade version. That never really happened with ramen though – I just stopped buying it and never made it at home.

When my kids started taking a liking to it, I thought it high time to figure out a simple way for them to get some of those delicious noodles in their lives. A few weeks ago, I was shopping at a larger grocery store in another town and noticed some noodles in the refrigerated section that looked a whole lot like ramen. The noodles were called “yakisoba” noodles and were located near wonton wrappers and salad dressings in the produce section. I grabbed two packages and thought I’d make the kids “ramen” at home. We ended up really liking the simple dish, so I made it a few more times and decided to share it with you all today.

I’m sure that you can buy uncooked Asian noodles, but I don’t know much about them. This precooked refrigerated noodle option was nice because it was easy to find and cost less than $2 per package. Plus, it makes this dish very quick and easy to prepare. I didn’t use the seasoning package that came with them though because I wasn’t sure how it would taste and it had more sugar in it than I wanted. I made this dish with shrimp, but you can substitute just about any protein that you like (chicken, steak, or crispy tofu would all be great). It’s seasoned with some simple ginger, garlic, and soy sauce and I added lots of vegetables for good measure. It was delicious and I know your family is going to love it too.

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