Seafood casseroles can range from warm and homey to elegant and suitable for a dinner party, depending upon the ingredients you choose. You can opt for inexpensive canned seafood or better quality fresh or frozen for your meal. Various types of fish, shrimp, crab and even lobster can be used in casseroles. Choose a creamy flavor, a cajun one or a fresh citrus taste for a new twist on a fish or shrimp dishes.
History
While fish stews and chowders have been eaten in coastal areas for centuries, the American fish and shrimp casseroles are primarily a 20th century creation. Casseroles offer an inexpensive and convenient way to stretch costlier ingredients with less expensive ones, like rice or pasta, during times when money or resources were tight, including the 1890s, World War I and the Great Depression, according to the "Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America." Innovations in prepared foods, including canned cream soups, made casseroles of all sorts, including tuna noodle casserole, a common food on the American table.
Types
Fish and shrimp casseroles can be suitable for an elegant dinner or a casual family meal. Tuna casseroles are a classic family favorite that include egg noodles, a creamy sauce, canned tuna, peas and a crunchy topping, like potato chips. Cajun casseroles can be a seasoned mixture of rice and seafood or a more classic jambalaya. A white seafood lasagna is an innovative and fun twist on the traditional classic and can use shrimp, crab or lobster with a creamy white sauce. Create an dinner party entree with scallops, spinach and a rich parmesan cream sauce, or substitute another shellfish or white fish for the scallops.
Function
Casseroles can be a practical choice for busy families. Many casseroles can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for dinner. Choose a recipe that uses a less delicate fish, like tuna, instead of something more perishable like scallops. Noodle or rice based casseroles will keep well. Leave toppings, including bread crumbs or cheese off, until you're ready to bake.
Considerations
Many people opt for casseroles because they are an affordable and tasty way to feed a crowd. Whether you favor a spicy cajun casserole or a classic creamy tuna casserole, keep in mind that lower-quality seafood can work well in casseroles. Small shrimp, canned tuna, or even imitation crab can create a tasty dish for your dinner at a lower cost. Experiment with substitutions to take advantage of local sales or fish you may have in your freezer.
Expert Insight
If you hope to make a fish or shrimp casserole that's a step up from the classic tuna noodle casserole you feed to the kids, choose a better-quality fish or seafood. Choose wild-caught fish rather than farmed, suggests well known chef Eric Ripert. Baking the whole fish is easy and can produce light, moist fish that you can use in your favorite fish casserole. If you're using top-quality fish, make sure the other ingredients in your casserole are the best you can acquire or afford.
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