Seafood Medley in Tomato-Butter Sauce
Loosely based on classic Southern-style shrimp and grits, this seafood medley is really easy to prepare.
Made with a combination of mussels, shrimp, squid and scallops simmered in a tomato-butter sauce and served over creamy polenta, the dish is a soul satisfying blend of simple ingredients and flavors. All you need to round out the meal is a tossed salad and a nice glass of wine.
Seafood Medley with Tomato-Butter Sauce
Loosely based on a Southern-style shrimp and grits, this seafood medley is made with mussels, shrimp, squid and scallops that have been simmered to perfection in a buttery, garlicky, tomato sauce and spooned over creamy polenta.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs fresh mussels
- 3/4 lb large shrimp
- 3/4 lb squid
- 3/4 lb dry-packed sea scallops
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 4 to 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- Creamy Polenta
Instructions
- Rinse the mussels under cold water and trim any beards with kitchen shears.
- Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tails on.
- Rinse the squid and remove the "cartilage" from the interior of the tubes. Separate the tentacles and slice the tubes into rings about 3/8-inch thick.
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat, add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook until soft, about 2 minutes more. Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper, stir to combine and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Bring about 2 inches of water to a boil in a large pot with a steamer insert. Add the mussels, cover and cook until they have all opened. Remove from the heat, keep covered and set aside.
- Increase the heat on the tomato sauce to medium-high, wait until it begins to simmer, then add the shrimp. Cook for 2 minutes, or until the shrimp begin turning opaque around the edges.
- Add the squid and continue cooking for 1 minute more. Add the scallops and butter, and continue to cook until the butter has melted and the seafood has cooked through. Total cooking time should be no more than 5 to 6 minutes.
- To serve, spoon a serving of polenta into the bottom of 6 shallow bowls. Arrange a serving of mussels around the outside of each bowl, then spoon the seafood tomato mixture into the center. Top with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Recipe Notes:
The key to this dish is to be sure you don't overcook your seafood. It doesn't take long, so keep a close eye and have your polenta ready to serve. If you have extra tomato sauce left over, freeze it and use it in a soup or pasta dish at a later date.
2 Comments on “Seafood Medley in Tomato-Butter Sauce”
I am not familier with dry-packed sea scallops. Are these different from the ones I purchase at my local supermarket? Can I use the ones from my market? How about bay scallops?
The word “dry,” when referring to scallops, means that they have not been soaked in the brine-like solution often used to help prevent them from losing their natural moisture. If not clearly marked, ask your fishmonger if the scallops you’re buying are “wet” or “dry.” We generally recommend dry scallops for several reasons; you’re not paying extra for the weight of the brine solution, the solution itself (usually phosphate based) can sometimes impart a faint chemical flavor and wet scallops are almost impossible to sear (not an issue in this recipe).
If you’ve had good luck with the scallops from your market in the past, there’s no reason they wouldn’t be fine for this recipe. Bay scallops are okay too – they’ll just cook a little bit quicker than the others.