Try our Gulf of America Recipes! The Gulf of America, formerly the Gulf of Mexico, offers some of the world's freshest and most flavorful seafood. Daily catches of shrimp, crab, snapper, and grouper are best enjoyed by grilling, steaming, or frying.
Hi, I'm Felice, and welcome to Cooking in the Keys! Here, you’ll find recipes inspired by the tropical flavors of the Florida Keys. The Keys is your go-to spot for Florida Keys cooking, from fresh seafood and tangy key lime pie to classic island dishes. 🌴
Where is The Gulf of America?
The Gulf of Mexico, now called the Gulf of America, is a large body of water south of the United States. It borders several states, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, and surrounds the Florida Keys. It connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the Straits of Florida and the Caribbean Sea through the Yucatán Channel.
The Gulf is vital to the Florida Keys, providing fresh seafood that shapes local dishes and supports the fishing industry. It also connects the U.S., Mexico, and Cuba, making it a key trade, fishing, and energy area.
How the Gulf Shapes Keys Cuisine
The Gulf of Mexico plays a big role in shaping the food of the Florida Keys. It brings in flavors and traditions from nearby states and countries.
Mexico gives us fish tacos, quesadillas, and nachos. Cuba brings Spanish rice, black beans, and the classic Cuban sandwich.
From Louisiana's Cajun country, we get blackened seasoning, used in many of our recipes to add bold, smoky flavors to seafood.
These influences come together to create a multicultural food scene in the Keys, shaped by the Gulf's natural resources and the traditions of our neighbors.
What Kind of Fish is in The Gulf?
The Gulf is loaded with fish—snapper, grouper, tuna, mackerel, hogfish, tripletail, cobia, snook, amberjack, mullet, and wahoo, just to name a few.
Shellfish from The Gulf
The Gulf is home to several types of shrimp, including Key West Pink Shrimp, Brown Shrimp, White Shrimp, and Royal Reds.
You’ll also find oysters like Eastern, Galveston Bay, Louisiana Gulf, Mississippi Sound, and Mobile Bay oysters.
And from the waters around the Florida Keys, we get Stone Crab, Blue Crab, and Spiny Lobster.
Gulf of America Recipes
Here are some tasty coastal recipes with fresh seafood and tropical flavors. These easy and fun dishes bring a taste of the Keys to your kitchen!
Mahi Mahi With Cream Sauce Recipe
This mahi mahi with cream sauce recipe combines sweet, flaky fish with a rich lemon caper sauce. Seared fillets are finished with butter, white wine, cream, and fresh lemon juice. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions. Pair with pasta, rice, or vegetables for an amazing meal.
Roasted Yellowtail Snapper with Old Bay Seasoning
Make roasted yellowtail snapper with Old Bay seasoning for a simple and tasty dinner. This easy recipe brings out the snapper's fresh flavor with a classic spice blend and a quick roast in the oven.
The dish is served with Lemon Asparagus Rice.
Coconut Oil Shrimp
Coconut oil shrimp with caramelized lemon is a quick, healthy dish that enhances shrimp's natural sweetness. The shrimp cooks in coconut oil with garlic and Old Bay seasoning while the lemon caramelizes for a delicious pop of citrus flavor. This simple and healthy dish has tropical flavors and is perfect for an easy weeknight meal.
Blackened Swordfish
Try this easy Cajun Blackened Swordfish recipe! Ready in just 30 minutes, swordfish is cooked with bold blackened seasoning in a cast-iron skillet for a delicious dinner. Serve with Sauteed Grape Tomatoes with Shallots.
Stone Crab Claws With Mustard Sauce
Enjoy the sweet taste of Stone Crab Claws with Mustard Sauce. Nothing beats the taste of fresh stone crabs, the jewel of the Gulf! Couple the crab claws with this creamy and tangy mustard sauce for an unbeatable combination of flavors.
For side dish ideas, check out What Goes With Stone Crabs?
Florida Fish Dip
Enjoy this classic Florida Smoked Fish Dip, a creamy seafood spread made with smoked wahoo or other smoked fish, cream cheese, mayonnaise, herbs, and spices.
A popular appetizer in the Florida Keys, it’s perfect with crackers and fresh veggies.
Baked Grouper with Key Lime Butter Sauce
Baked grouper drizzled with a tangy Key Lime Butter Sauce is perfect for a healthy dinner! Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy recipe is grain-free and low-carb. We love our key limes in Key West, but you can use lemon or limes if that's what you have. It will still be great!
Yellowfin Tuna Poke Bowl
In this Yellowfin Tuna Poke Bowl, you’ll find a perfect mix of sweet and savory flavors. It's easy to make, packed with healthy ingredients, and loaded with delicious umami flavor.
Plus, it’s a refreshing dish that’s perfect for warm, sunny days. Serving it over white rice makes it a complete meal.
Crispy Fried Grouper Cheeks
Learn how to cook grouper cheeks on the stovetop with this simple recipe. If you love fish, you’ve got to try this! Grouper is a large, meaty fish caught right here in the Florida Keys. The cheeks are tender and mild, and when coated in panko and pan-fried, they turn golden and crispy. Serve with Sweet Coleslaw.
Seared Tripletail with Lemon Butter Sauce
Tripletail is a mild, thin white fish with flaky flesh is similar to snapper. The fish is seasoned, dredged in flour, and seared in a hot pan. At the same time the fish cooks, the butter sauce heats in a separate pan. Plate the sauce over the fish for a delicious and easy meal. Serve with Steamed Broccoli and Carrots or Roasted Broccoli with Garlic and Cheese for a complete meal.
Pan Seared Snapper with Lemon Butter Sauce
Pan-Seared Fish with Lemon Butter Sauce is perfect for busy nights. With a golden crust and flaky texture, the fish cooks in just 10 minutes. Use any white fish fillets. Season with your favorite spices and finish with a simple lemon butter sauce. Serve with Oven Roasted Vegetables with Garlic or a side salad.
Fish and Grits Breakfast
Fish and Grits is a full breakfast dish originating in the Florida Keys. This filling breakfast has hot creamy grits, bacon, eggs, onions, and small white flaky fish fillets called grunts.
Grilled Grouper Collars
Grouper collars are one of the most prized cuts of large fish. Seasoned with classic Old Bay seasoning and perfectly grilled, they have crispy skin and moist, flaky flesh. Cook them until the skin crisps up, and the flesh turns opaque for an unforgettable meal. Serve with Mexican Black Bean Salad or steamed rice.
Shrimp Salad with Old Bay
Make this easy Shrimp Salad for a light, flavorful meal! This dish is perfect for summer with crisp Key West Pink Shrimp, crunchy celery, onion, dill, and a kick of Old Bay seasoning. Serve it on lettuce, in a sandwich, or with crackers. Ready in minutes and perfect for meal prep!
Crispy Porgy Fish Recipe
Take your dinner up a notch with this panko-crusted porgy recipe! Light, golden, and crispy, it's a simple delicious dish that goes with Roasted Baby Gold Potatoes, broccoli, or cauliflower, lemon asparagus rice, and beans.
Boiled Spiny Lobsters
Boiling Florida spiny lobster is quick and easy! Just drop them in salted boiling water and crack them open for one of the best meals you'll ever have. Serve with melted butter, lemon wedges, and cocktail sauce for the perfect seafood dinner.
Boiled Shrimp With Potatoes and Corn (Shrimp Boil)
Boiled shrimp with potatoes and corn is a quick and easy one-pot meal made with pink shrimp, Old Bay, garlic, and lemon. It’s ready in 30 minutes and perfect for a weeknight dinner or casual weekend meal. Serve hot with butter and lemon.
Summary
The Gulf of America, once called the Gulf of Mexico, is more than just water. It’s the heart of cooking in the Florida Keys.
It provides fresh seafood like shrimp, stone crab, snapper, and grouper, inspiring tasty dishes influenced by nearby places like Mexico, Cuba, and Louisiana.
The Gulf's flavors are in every bite, from blackened swordfish to shrimp salad and fish tacos.
Cooking in the Keys shares recipes that bring the taste of the Keys to your home, perfect for everyday meals or special occasions.
Visit our full list of seafood recipes for more delicious ideas.
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