Fried rice is such a fantastic rice dish to make. Its quick, you can gather a few leftovers and it can be ready in no time at all. Plus, it can come in different variations. The seafood in this seafood fried rice recipe is a mix of crab meat, crab roe, shrimp, and squid. It’s a delicious dish. Why is fried rice so great? Because you can eat it plain or with sauce. That could be a simple vegetable stir fry sauce or something more hearty, like this chicken cashew stir fry. It’s up to you.
Eggs, green bell pepper, soy sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil, green chili pepper, garlic, peas, spring onions, squid, and seafood are used in this fried rice recipe. Leftover rice is always the standard for getting the best fried rice. You can quickly boil some rice, spread it out, and let it cool before making this seafood fried rice, though, if you don’t have any left over.
The first step is to get all the ingredients prepped and ready to go. Cut the squid into strips, season them, and then fry them. This is similar to how the chicken cashew stir-fry is made. The shrimp and the eggs are also seasoned and fried.
To get crab meat from fresh crabs, you steam them, then take them apart and take out the meat. It can be hard to get the meat out of the shell this way, but it is well worth it.
In this recipe, I also add the roe, which is the egg from the matured female crab. You don’t have to do this, though, since most people buy crab meat in a can and the roe isn’t usually used or sold.
The spring onions, garlic, carrots, and bell peppers are also chopped. Fry the garlic, the white ends of the spring onions, and the cut chilies in the hot wok. Then add the carrots, peas, crab meat, roe, squid, and eggs. The rest of the process is pretty quick.
Add some soy sauce to the contents of the wok and then add the rice and mix. After the oyster sauce and sesame oil are added, the bell peppers, shrimp, and the green ends of the spring onions are added. That’s pretty much it.
Seafood rice featuring shrimp and crab meat is a delicious one-pot meal that looks impressive but is actually quite easy to make With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can have a beautiful platter of seafood rice ready in under an hour. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share my tips and tricks for making the best seafood rice recipe loaded with sweet crab and tender shrimp
Selecting the Seafood
The key to great seafood rice is using high quality crab and shrimp. Here are some buying tips:
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Crab meat: Go for jumbo lump crab meat. Lump crab has bigger chunks of meat for more flavor in every bite. Canned pasteurized crab meat works well for convenience.
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Shrimp: Choose raw, shell on shrimp. Peeling them yourself ensures freshness. Aim for large shrimp around 16-20 count per pound. Smaller shrimp can overcook and get rubbery.
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Frozen vs. fresh: If you don’t live near the coast, using frozen seafood is fine. Just thaw it properly in the fridge overnight before cooking.
Prepping the Seafood
Proper prep is crucial for tender seafood in your rice. Here’s how to prep the crab and shrimp:
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Crab: Carefully pick through the crab meat and remove any shells or cartilage. Try not to break up the lumps too much.
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Shrimp: Peel and devein the shrimp. Rinse thoroughly. Pat dry with paper towels.
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Chopping For the best texture, coarsely chop the shrimp into 1/2″ pieces Gently fold the crab meat to incorporate.
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Seasoning: Season the seafood with Old Bay, salt, pepper, and lemon juice before adding it to the rice.
Cook the Rice
With the prep work done, it’s time to cook the rice. Here are two easy methods:
On the Stovetop
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Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
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Cook the aromatics like onion, celery, and bell pepper until soft.
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Add the dry rice and toast for 2 minutes.
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Pour in chicken or seafood stock and seasonings.
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Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
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Simmer covered for 18-20 minutes until rice is tender.
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Fold in seafood and cook 5 more minutes.
Baked Rice
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Preheat oven to 375°F.
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Combine rice, stock, aromatics and seasonings in a casserole dish.
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Bake covered for 25 minutes.
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Remove from oven, stir in seafood.
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Bake 10 more minutes until seafood is cooked through.
Mix and Match Seafood Combinations
The possibilities are endless when it comes to seafood rice recipes. Consider mixing and matching:
- Shrimp, scallops, crab meat
- Shrimp, mussels, clams
- Crawfish, sausage, shrimp
- Lobster meat, crab, shrimp
- Salmon, shrimp, crab
Just remember firmer seafood like scallops and shrimp need less time to cook than delicate crab or lobster meat. Avoid overcooking.
Flavorful Finishing Touches
A few small additions can take your seafood rice over the top. Stir in any of the following at the very end:
- Fresh parsley, thyme, oregano, green onions
- Lemon or lime juice
- Hot sauce or cajun seasoning
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Butter or olive oil
The acid, herbs, and richness elevate the flavors of the rice beautifully.
Recipe Variations
Playing around with different flavor profiles is part of the fun of seafood rice. Try these global inspiration variations:
Cajun Seafood Rice
- The holy trinity of onion, celery, bell pepper
- Cayenne, paprika, bay leaf, thyme
- Andouille sausage, chicken stock
Spanish Seafood Rice
- Sofrito of onion, tomato, garlic, olive oil
- Saffron threads, smoked paprika
- Chorizo, clam juice, peas
Thai Seafood Fried Rice
- Garlic, ginger, lemongrass, chilies
- Fish sauce, lime juice, basil
- Shrimp, crab meat, baby corn
The possibilities are endless! Use your imagination to come up with your own signature seafood rice recipe.
Step-By-Step Seafood Rice Recipe
To recap, here is a step-by-step method for making perfect seafood rice:
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Cook aromatics like onion and celery in oil.
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Toast rice until translucent.
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Add liquid and seasonings and bring to a boil.
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Reduce heat and simmer covered until rice is tender.
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Fold in chopped shrimp and crab meat.
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Cook 5 more minutes until seafood is opaque.
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Stir in herbs, lemon, and butter right before serving.
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Adjust seasoning and serve hot. Enjoy your seafood rice masterpiece!
Seafood Rice | Lump Crab Rice With Shrimp And Bacon | This Seafood Rice Recipe is So Delicious!
FAQ
What does seafood fried rice contain?
How to flavor imitation crab meat?
Can you cook crab meat?
How do you cook shrimp & rice together?
While rice cooks, sauté onions and bell peppers in a small amount of olive oil until soft and lightly caramelized. Add imitation crab, shrimp, and salad shrimp. Cook just until raw shrimp becomes opaque. Sprinkle mixture with half a teaspoon or so of Old Bay Seasoning. Combine cooked rice and seafood mixture.
What is a seafood rice recipe?
This seafood rice recipe, also known as Arroz marinero or Arroz con mariscos, is a delicious Latin American dish made with rice cooked in seafood broth and sautéed with shrimp, clams, squid, bay scallops, onions, garlic, bell pepper, cilantro and spices. I like to call this dish the South American/Latin cousin of Spanish seafood paella.
How long does it take to make the seafood rice?
This seafood rice recipe is ready in well under 30 minutes and is loaded with flavor. It combines perfectly seasoned rice, vegetables, and shrimp to create a simple yet delicious fried rice recipe. And the best part is that it’s so easy to make.
How do you cook shrimp in Spanish rice mix?
Prepare Spanish rice mix per the package instructions omitting the tomatoes. While rice cooks, sauté onions and bell peppers in a small amount of olive oil until soft and lightly caramelized. Add imitation crab, shrimp, and salad shrimp. Cook just until raw shrimp becomes opaque. Sprinkle mixture with half a teaspoon or so of Old Bay Seasoning.