Maryland Seafood Stew Recipes

CHESAPEAKE OYSTER STEW, CRISPY SOFT SHELL CRAB, MARYLAND JUMBO LUMP CRAB IMPERIAL EASTERN SHORE SWEET CORN PUDDING

Steps:

• For the Soft Shell Crab: Either preheat fryer, or a Dutch oven filled halfway with oil, to 250 degrees F. Clean crabs and cover with milk and buttermilk. Place in refrigerator until chilled, about 10 minutes. Mix together flours and seasonings. Remove crabs from milk and drain excess. Dip into seasoned flour and shake off excess. Carefully lower into preheated oil. Fry for approximately 3 minutes until crispy and golden brown. Remove from hot oil, drain, hold for final assembly.
• Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Imperial:
• In a small saute pan, melt butter and whisk in flour to form a light roux. Cook roux briefly and stir in milk and cream. Keep stirring and bring to a boil. Add sherry, lemon juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, seafood seasoning and salt and pepper, to taste. Remove from heat, chill slightly, and fold in Maryland jumbo lump crabmeat, chives, parsley, and mayonnaise. Reserve for final assembly.
• Eastern Shore Sweet Corn Pudding: Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Cut kernels off of cob and scrape cob with the back of a knife to remove the "milk". Chop the cob into pieces. Heat butter in a saute pan and add shallots, garlic, corn, and cob. Saute briefly for 1 minute. Add seafood seasoning, sugar and salt and pepper, to taste and saute for an additional minute. Add cream and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let mixture steep for a few minutes. Discard cob pieces and puree corn/crab mixture. Add 1/2 cup of heated mixture to the eggs and whisk continuously. Then whisk egg mixture back into heated liquid, also known as tempering. Strain and pour mix into 6 greased ramekins. Bake in preheated oven in a water bath until pudding sets, about 25 minutes. Remove from water and reserve warm for final assembly.
• Chesapeake Oyster Stew: Heat butter in a saucepan and add ham, corn kernels, shallot, garlic, and leek. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add vermouth and oyster liquor (or bottled clam juice). Reduce by half and add cream. Turn down heat and simmer until slightly thickened. Add seasonings and taste. Turn off heat and add oysters and herbs. Reserve for final assembly.
• Final Assembly: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Carefully lift the top shell off the soft shell crabs and stuff with Maryland Crab Imperial. Bake in preheated oven for a few minutes while completing the dish. Place warm Eastern Shore Sweet Corn Pudding in a shallow heated bowl. Ladle Chesapeake Oyster Stew in bowl around the pudding with 3 Chesapeake oysters per serving. Carefully place Maryland Soft Shell Crab on the pudding. Garnish with chives and corn shoots from your local Maryland farmers market, if using!

MANHATTAN-STYLE SEAFOOD STEW

Steps:

• Cook bacon in heavy large pot over medium heat until fat renders, about 5 minutes. Add onions and shallots and sauté until tender, about 8 minutes. Chop tomatoes in processor. Add to pot with clam juice, wine, bay leaves and dried red pepper. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add potatoes to stew and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Return to simmer before continuing.) Add clams to stew. Cover and simmer until clams begin to open, about 5 minutes. Add scallops and shrimp, cover and simmer until clams open and scallops and shrimp are cooked through, about 3 minutes. Discard any clams that do not open. Mix in half of basil. Transfer stew to large serving bowl. Sprinkle with remaining basil and lemon peel.

MID-ATLANTIC SEAFOOD STEW

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes and red pepper in a blender; purée until smooth. Heat a large straight-sided skillet or braiser pan over medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon oil and 2 tablespoons butter.
• When butter melts and foam subsides, add king-oyster mushrooms in a single layer. Season generously with salt and pepper and cook, flipping once, until golden brown on both cut sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon each oil and butter in skillet over medium. Add onion and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden in places, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, and 1 teaspoon Old Bay and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add vermouth; cook until mostly evaporated, about 2 minutes.
• Return king-oyster mushrooms to skillet with tomato mixture, broth, and beech mushrooms. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, season fish and shrimp with remaining 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay, salt, and pepper; nestle into skillet. Simmer, gently stirring a few times, until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Nestle crabmeat into skillet and cook until warmed through, about 30 seconds. Serve with crostini or biscuits.

SEAFOOD STEW

Steps:

• Place a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onions, fennel, carrots and leeks with a large pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and slightly caramelized, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the water, wine and tomatoes and stir in the olives and orange peel. Season with salt and pepper, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Increase the heat to medium and add the clams and mussels. Cover the pot and cook for 2 minutes. Season the shrimp and squid with salt and pepper then add them to the pot. Put the lid back on and cook for another 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, stir and continue to cook in 2-minute increments until all the seafood is cooked through and the clams and mussels have opened up, about 4 more minutes. Remove the orange peels and discard.
• To serve, ladle into bowls, being sure to get an even mix of seafood. Sprinkle some parsley and mint on top and drizzle with olive oil. Serve immediately with crusty grilled bread! (If you like a little heat add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.)

EASY SEAFOOD STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 4 quart saucepan over medium heat.
• Add pepper and onion. Cook until softened and lightly brown (about 5 mins), stirring frequently.
• Stir in garlic and cook for another minute, stirring constantly.
• Stir in tomatoes, juice, water, and salt. Cover and heat to boiling over high heat.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, 10 minutes.
• Stir in cod and shrimp. Cover & simmer until they turn opaque throughout (about 3 mins), stirring occasionally.

EASY MEDITERRANEAN SEAFOOD STEW

Steps:

• Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and crushed red pepper. Cook and stir until onion is soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
• Increase heat to medium-high and add tomatoes, reserved potatoes, and white wine. Bring to a simmer. Cook, breaking the tomatoes up with a spoon, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour in fish stock and return to a simmer.
• Add white fish to the pot, nestling the pieces down into the broth. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Add clams, shrimp, and calamari. Simmer until shrimp are pink and clams have opened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove and discard any unopened clams.
• Turn off the heat and stir in basil, parsley, lemon juice, lemon zest. Ladle into bowls to serve.