A seafood buffet can be scrumptious. Depending on your seafood buffet menu ideas, the choices of delectable seafoods available really do seem limitless. You can find seafood buffets serving virtually every type of dish, including mouth-watering picks like lobsters, clams and oysters. As a seafood lover, you’ll never have to worry about missing out on your favourites.
Buffets are so large in magnitude that everyone will inevitably find something that satisfies their stomachs. When you are going with a single menu theme such as seafood, it is vital that you evolve your cooking standard.
The best seafood buffets can have you going back for thirds, let alone seconds. When you hire a catering service in the future, get creative with the menu and your guests will thank you later! Here are eight of the tastiest seafood buffet menu ideas:
Idea #1: Hors d’Oeuvres
In order to properly prime the appetites of your guests, you have to serve the right appetizers as part of your seafood buffet menu ideas.
As it pertains to seafood, you have a great amount of choices to boot. First, you can never go wrong with some classic shrimp cocktails. If you really want to step your game up, try having crab meat spread over some crackers or toasted bread.
Thankfully, you usually won’t have to worry about the temperature of these items. Small morsels of seafood can generally be served hot or cold.
Idea #2: Seafood Quiche
Quiche can be looked upon as the ultimate crossroads between an appetizer and a first dish. Seafood quiches are extremely easy to prepare, so you’ll be able to keep them replenished as fast as they leave the buffet.
As for specific ingredients, you can use either frozen or canned seafood. A popular version comes in the form of the smoked salmon quiche with a pastry crust. Or, if your guests are picky, you can save them the trouble and have the quiches prepared sans the crust.
There are many other recipes for seafood quiche available online. Do some research and you will be able to impress your guests with your expert seafood know-how!
Idea #3: Pâté
Similar to some seafood hors d’oeuvres, but having enough substance to stand as its own buffet dish, pâté is an excellent seafood buffet menu idea. Don’t let the plain visual deter you either. Seafood pâtés are sure to impress even the most vehement detractor. Try your hand at recipes such as wild cod or smoked salmon pâté when adding to your buffet menu.
The flavour of pâté really gets turned up a notch when you prepare it with herbs and serve on some crispy toast. Experiment with your own variation until you strike the perfect balance between flavor and texture.
Idea #4: Seafood Salads
Is it really a buffet if it doesn’t include a salad bar? The answer should be a resounding no. In addition to the various vegetables and fruits you can find, a seafood salad at a buffet should include the essentials. Shrimp is a mainstay dish of any salad bar and should be complemented by items such as avocado.
Avocado is sure to balance the leanness of other applicable ingredients such as tuna or salmon. Make sure to add in the requisite chickpeas and red beans to complete your seafood salad section. Provide the right ingredients and leave the creativity aspect to your guest.
Idea #5: Cannelloni
Just because it is a staple of Italian cuisine doesn’t mean that it can’t be retrofitted into a seafood variation, especially as it pertains to serving it via buffet.
One of the tastiest versions of the classic dish you can serve involves informative post using trout. Prepare the cannelloni the way you normally would, but switch out the meat base for the freshwater fish. Be sure to include unconventional vegetables as well such as asparagus.
Put your chef hat on and use your imagination to come up with the best seafood buffet menu ideas!
Idea #6: Seafood Pasta
As is the case with cannelloni, seafood can be a great ingredient for transforming typical dishes you’d find at a buffet.
Consider making a fettuccine with lobster sauce, or a shrimp linguine complemented by lemon and garlic. Risotto with clams are also a fine option for serving at a buffet. All seafood pasta dishes are sure to impress your guests because of the innovative appeal of the final result.
Idea #7: Whole Poached Salmon
This seafood menu idea should be placed front and centre in your buffet. The sheer visual of the dish is a powerful statement.
You can also get creative with how you want to serve the poached salmon. Usually, it is important to add a few vegetables such as onions or cucumbers so that it complements the succulent meat inside.
The flavour will leave your guests breathless and is massive enough to feed all guests at your buffet.
Idea #8: Seafood Sandwiches
Seafood sandwiches are great buffet menu ideas, since this can be an easy grab-and-go option for those who just want to get some tasty grub in their stomach.
For seafood options, try going above and beyond a regular tuna sandwich. Offer smoked mackerel with horseradish sauce for one choice, or smoked salmon with cream cheese for another. Your guests will surely be wanting more than their stomachs can handle!
