The Best Healthy Seafood Recipes are right here! The Florida Keys are a treasure trove for seafood enthusiasts.
Join us as we dive into healthy seafood recipes the Florida Keys way, where every meal is a celebration of fresh flavors and wholesome goodness.
We cook fish, shrimp, lobsters, and crab to bring you the very best fresh food with maximum health benefits.
The best healthy seafood recipes are seared mahi mahi, blackened swordfish, seared Cajun yellowfin tuna, peel 'n eat shrimp, roasted mahi mahi, baked yellowtail, shrimp tacos, stone crabs, fish tacos, coconut shrimp, grilled grouper collar, shrimp cocktail, Cajun shrimp, baked snapper, broiled snapper, and Florida fish dip.
Jump to:
- How to Purchase Fresh Fish
- Pan Seared Mahi Mahi with Basil Butter
- Blackened Swordfish
- Seared Cajun Yellowfin Tuna
- Peel 'n Eat Shrimp
- Baked Mahi Mahi with Old Bay
- Roasted Yellowtail Snapper
- Shrimp Tacos
- Snapper Tacos with Cilantro Lime Crema
- Baked Coconut Shrimp with Mango Dipping Sauce
- Grilled Grouper Collar
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Cajun Shrimp with Brown Butter
- Baked Snapper with Key Lime Butter Sauce
- Broiled Snapper Recipe
- Smoked Fish Dip
- Sauteed Shrimp with Coconut Aminos
- Easy Sides for Seafood
- Summary
- FAQ
- 💬 Comments
How to Purchase Fresh Fish
When purchasing whole fish, look for ones with clear, bright eyes and moist scales, and ensure the fish doesn’t have a fishy odor. It's advisable to hold and smell the fish before buying. Fish fillets should always be moist, intact, and not drying out.
Or, go out back with a fishing pole and some bait--you might get lucky!
Pan Seared Mahi Mahi with Basil Butter
Fresh basil, lemon juice, and unsalted butter will make Mahimahi with Basil Butter your new favorite seafood main dish. The fish fillets are seared in a hot pan and doused in a lemon basil butter sauce. The whole family will love this easy fish recipe with its delicious taste.
Blackened Swordfish
To blacken swordfish, a blend of herbs and spices that includes paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, thyme, oregano, and garlic powder is mixed up and dusted on the fish.
Over high heat, the swordfish is seared in a cast-iron pan to get the signature black color and crust on its surface.
Seared Cajun Yellowfin Tuna
Blackened tuna is made with the same Cajun blackened seasoning I use on my swordfish. The tuna is cooked in a hot pan for no more than a minute per side and then chilled.
The result is a flavorful and spicy quick seafood dinner with a smoky, savory exterior and a moist, tender interior.
The spice level can be adjusted to suit your taste by varying the amount of cayenne pepper in the seasoning blend. Serve seared ahi tuna cold with lemon and pink sauce.
Peel 'n Eat Shrimp
Peel and Eat Shrimp is a healthy shrimp appetizer, especially when using fresh Key West pink shrimp. This simple make-ahead dish is going to be your new favorite.
Baked Mahi Mahi with Old Bay
Enjoy tender, oven-roasted mahi mahi that's bursting with flavor! With simple ingredients like lemon and your choice of Old Bay or blackened seasoning, this healthy and scrumptious recipe is ideal for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner.
Roasted Yellowtail Snapper
Baked yellowtail with Old Bay Seasoning is a straightforward recipe that's made in the oven. The fish is seasoned, dotted with cold cubed butter, and roasted for a few minutes. This makes for a delicious meal!
Shrimp Tacos
Wild-caught Key West shrimp, homemade taco seasoning, fresh vegetables, and almond flour tortillas make great healthy shrimp tacos!
Serve with Pico de Gallo and guacamole. These shrimp tacos make a healthy meal with big flavor!
Snapper Tacos with Cilantro Lime Crema
Our favorite fish tacos are made with fresh snapper and blackened seasoning. The tender, flaky snapper fillets are lightly seasoned and seared with lime juice to enhance their natural flavors.
These healthy fish tacos are then assembled with crunchy shredded cabbage and a drizzle of tangy cilantro lime crema.
Baked Coconut Shrimp with Mango Dipping Sauce
Baked coconut shrimp is a tasty low-fat appetizer featuring succulent shrimp coated in a crispy, sweet coconut breading.
The combination of the tender shrimp and the tropical, slightly nutty taste of coconut makes a good choice for an easy appetizer.
When selecting the shrimp for this recipe, look for wild-caught frozen shrimp harvested in the USA. If you're in Florida, get local Key West Pink Shrimp.
Grilled Grouper Collar
The grouper collar is a section of the fish located just behind the head and gills, extending to the pectoral fins. This portion contains a rich concentration of tender, flavorful meat.
Because there is only one per fish, the chef and his or her team in the kitchen usually enjoy it. If you're lucky enough to get one, throw it on the grill, season wisely, and enjoy!
Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail is a simple appetizer featuring chilled shrimp served with cocktail sauce, offering a tasty combination of flavors and textures. It's a classic choice for a refreshing start to a meal.
Cajun Shrimp with Brown Butter
This buttery blackened shrimp recipe is a one-pan dish and incredibly simple to prepare. Using Key West pink shrimp, a homemade blackened seasoning blend, a couple of lemons, and a few tablespoons of unsalted butter, the recipe takes just 15 minutes from start to finish.
Baked Snapper with Key Lime Butter Sauce
We are crazy about key limes in Key West!
This is a fresh yellowtail snapper fillet that's blackened and topped with a key lime butter sauce. The fish is easily prepared and baked in the oven for under 10 minutes.
Broiled Snapper Recipe
Broiling is another method for preparing seafood, recognized as one of the quickest cooking methods for fish.
Cooking fish under direct, high heat, results in a deliciously caramelized surface while keeping the inside moist and tender. It's perfect for getting a crispy texture without the need for added fats, making it a healthier option.
Smoked Fish Dip
Popular in the Florida Keys and other coastal towns, fish dip is an iconic Floridian recipe. Smoking has long been a reliable method of preserving fish.
Fish dip features smoked fish, such as wahoo, mahi, or snapper, blended with mayonnaise, cream cheese, and crisp vegetables like celery and onions. Enjoyed with crackers or fresh vegetables, it's a savory appetizer with coastal flair.
Sauteed Shrimp with Coconut Aminos
Enjoy shrimp sauteed with coconut aminos and butter sauce, ready in just 15 minutes. Perfect for a healthy and delicious weeknight meal.
Easy Sides for Seafood
Try all our delicious side dishes for your dinner. Our most popular seafood sides include:
- Lemon Asparagus Rice
- Authentic Spanish Rice with Peas
- Gluten-Free Caprese Pasta Salad
- Oven Roasted Baby Gold Potatoes
- Roasted Tiny Red Potatoes
- Roasted Cauliflower and Asparagus with Carrots
- Sautéed Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
- Poached Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Summary
The Florida Keys are a goldmine for anyone who loves seafood. The Keys has an abundance of locally caught fish and shellfish that are perfect for cooking up healthy and tasty dishes.
Our easy and healthy seafood recipes really bring out the best of the local catch, from the tangy taste of Key West pink shrimp salad to the tender goodness of broiled mahi.
Trying out these recipes not only gives you a flavor of the Keys' amazing food scene. No matter if you're already good in the kitchen or just starting out, these recipes prove that cooking with fresh, local seafood can be easy, fun, and incredibly rewarding.
Let the unique tastes of the Florida Keys inspire your next cooking adventure, and make your meals feel like a mini vacation to the beach.
If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch!
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FAQ
Wild-caught seafood is fish and shellfish that are harvested directly from their natural, non-cultivated habitats, such as oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes. Unlike farmed seafood, which is raised in controlled environments, wild seafood is caught in the wild by fishermen. Wild seafood is considered healthier because it feeds on natural sources.
Florida is known for its abundant seafood and some of the most popular fish to eat in Florida are:
Snapper
Grouper
Hogfish
Mahi-Mahi
Wahoo
Pompano
Trout
Blackfin Tuna
Swordfish
Spiny Lobsters
Pink Shrimp
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