New England Seafood Casserole Recipe

Quick, creamy, and easy to make, New England Seafood Casserole will take you right to the hot Atlantic coast and all its delicious dishes. It will be the highlight of your weeknight meals!

This casserole is a real delight for seafood lovers. If you’re a big fan, keep reading.

We have prepared the Perfect New England Seafood Casserole Recipe that you can cook in a matter of minutes, using your favorite type of seafood.

Besides, don’t let the price scare you. Just because it’s a seafood casserole doesn’t stop it from being on the budget. We will share all the secrets throughout the process.

How to make New England Seafood Casserole

Whenever you find good pieces at the fishmonger, it’s time to cook the most delicious casserole. Prawns and firm white fish form the base of this delicious classic dish, but other offerings from the sea can also be included.

If you decide to swap the white fish for lobster or the shrimp for scallops, it will still taste like heaven. So here’s what you really need for this classic New England seafood casserole.

Ingredients:

(4 servings)

for the casserole

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 ounces mushrooms
• 12-16 ounces shrimp
• 8 ounces cooked ling fillets
• 2-4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

for the sauce

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups of milk
• Kosher Salt
• Black pepper (freshly ground)
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped chives
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons dry white wine (or sherry)

Instructions:

As you can see, this seafood casserole recipe is very forgiving. Do you want to use more shellfish or fish? Forward! Choose what you like and make your own version of the dish. However, do not overdo it.

Keep in mind that different components of seafood have different cooking times. So be careful with the different times so that the fish and prawns cook evenly.

On the other hand, you do not have to include all the components of the shellfish. You can make this seafood casserole with just fish or prawns 一 it will taste great and at the same time it will be cheaper.

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender, stirring occasionally.

Step 2:

Use 1 tablespoon of butter to grease the casserole (½ liter) and mix the seafood components in it, covering them with the cooked mushrooms.

Step 3:

Prepare the sauce. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter to a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk the flour until smooth and bubbly. Cook another 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Step 4:

Add the milk little by little, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat and continue stirring until the sauce thickens and the mixture becomes a light sauce. Add the salt, pepper, chives, paprika, parsley and wine.

Step 5:

Pour the sauce into the seafood casserole, mix and bake for 8-10 minutes in the preheated oven.

Step 6:

Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top.

Pro Tip: You can also top it with breadcrumbs for crunch.

Step 7:

Pop the pan back in the oven and bake for another 8-10 minutes until it has a nice golden brown top.

Serve immediately and enjoy.

Ingredient Substitution

Seafood casserole is a very flexible dishsince you can substitute any of the seafood components for whatever you want, and it will still be delicious.

However, there are some important things to keep in mind to be able to alter the flavors, without spoiling the whole dish. Here are the ingredients you can use in the seafood casserole to create an alternate take on this classic dish.

scallops

Scallops are the most nutritious, low-fat shrimp substitute you’ll find. They have a very delicate flavor that can replace prawns in any dish in which they are not the protagonists.

Note: You don’t necessarily have to go for the jumbo scallops. Scallop “chunks” are very cheaply priced and make no difference to the overall flavor of the dish.

White fish

Although we have used chopped ling fillets in this seafood casserole recipe, any firm, non-oily white fish will do just as well. You can add the same amount of haddock, halibut, perch, or turbot to the seafood mixture. It will only serve to complement this classic dish.

However, avoid using fish such as salmon or mackerel, as they are quite fatty. They will only spoil the delicate flavor and aromas of New England Seafood Casserole.

What to Serve with New England Seafood Casserole

This seafood casserole is a perfectly suitable main course for a quick family dinner or even a company gathering. However, to make it even better, you have to enhance its flavor with some tasty accompaniments.

Since it is full of seafood, something like a simple pasta, salad or baked potato will be perfect.

This is what we suggest serving with the New England Seafood Casserole.

Cabbage salad

Since seafood casserole already has a strong fish and shrimp flavor, a simple salad with 1-2 ingredients and mild seasoning is best. So the coleslaw offers a welcome contrast to the complexity of the flavors in the casserole.

The coleslaw contains only cabbage and carrots dressed with a simple dressing. Is there a better idea than combining seafood casserole with vibrant vegetables? Tell us when you try it.

Mashed potatoes

Potatoes are always a spectacular side dish, no matter how you prepare them: fried, roasted, or mashed. With this rich and flavorful seafood casserole, you’ll want to keep the garnish as simple as possible.

The mashed potatoes taste excellent with white fish and shrimp. Trust us.

How to Reheat New England Seafood Casserole

Don’t be too quick to throw away the leftover seafood casserole after dinner. You can safely reheat it up to 4 days after cooking. And since we’ve added chives to our recipe, the reheated seafood casserole should taste even better.

The only challenge is keeping it from taking on a fishy smell or drying out. But we will show you how to avoid it.

How to Reheat New England Seafood Casserole in the Microwave

As we all know, the microwave can heat food unevenly, overheating the outside while the center remains cold. That’s why reheating a seafood casserole in the microwave isn’t the best option, unless you want it to smell fishy.

However, if it’s the only option you have left, be sure to add a splash of water and leave it covered.

How to Reheat New England Seafood Casserole in the Oven

Reheating the seafood casserole in the oven is the best way to make it fresh. You just have to preheat the oven to about 275° F, splash the casserole with a little water and cover it with aluminum foil.

Heat the casserole for about 10-15 minutes.

How to Preserve New England Seafood Casserole

You probably won’t be able to resist eating the whole seafood casserole. Still, if you happen to have some leftovers from yesterday’s dinner, you may be wondering how to store them. Our casserole contains shellfish, so you must be careful not to spoil the dish.

Store the seafood casserole in the fridge

Seafood loses its quality very quickly. So really, we recommend that you don’t cook more than you can eat in one sitting. However, if you have leftover seafood casserole, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. It will last for 3-4 days, but it is best to consume it the next day at the latest.

Storing the seafood casserole in the freezer

When you are done cooking, allow the casserole to cool slightly, then wrap it with 2 layers of aluminum foil. Don’t forget to label the aluminum foil before storing it in the freezer. It will last up to 3 months.