Add Seafood to Summer Meals

Grilled meals provide a summer escape for many families by offering opportunities to spend moments together while enjoying flavorful dishes. As Americans face uncertainty in many aspects of life, one place they should be able to turn to for normalcy is food. 

One option that checks boxes including comfort, fun, taste, and variety: seafood. As a nutritious protein available across the country, it is versatile and can be paired with a variety of cuisines and flavors. Options range from salmon and shrimp to crab, tuna, and more. 

To encourage hungry Americans to enjoy the many benefits of eating seafood, the "Eat Seafood America" campaign offers these reasons to add fish, shrimp, and more to your menu:

* Whether you order online, head to a store, or purchase fresh from a local fisherman, seafood is widely available.

* Seafood works for a variety of dishes and cooking methods, such as these recipes for Easy Shrimp Skewers, a light, and hassle-free family meal, or Seared Salmon with Mediterranean Salsa, a fun spin on cowboy caviar.

* Seafood provides essential nutrients that support immune health, such as omega-3s that may even help reduce anxiety, according to research published by "The Journal of the American Medical Association." 

* Purchasing seafood supports 2 million American jobs for men and women who follow high levels of food safety practices to provide sustainable seafood.

* Seafood offers an escape as a way for families to enjoy a favorite meal that reminds loved ones of vacation memories from oceanside paradises. 

Find more ways to add seafood to your summer menu at eatseafoodamerica.com.

Easy Shrimp Skewers

Ingredients

• 10 wooden skewers

• water

• 2 medium zucchinis, cut into large chunks

• 2 medium bell peppers (any color), cut into large chunks

• 2 red onions, cut into large chunks

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes

• 10-12 ounces cooked shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails on

•       olive oil

•       sea salt, to taste

• 1 lemon, juice only

Instructions

1. In a bowl, soak skewer sticks in water at least 10 minutes to prevent burning on the grill). Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

2. Build skewers by alternating zucchinis, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and shrimp, pushing ingredients closely together on each skewer. Brush each with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, to taste.

3. Cook skewers about 9 minutes, rotating every 3 minutes until veggies and shrimp are seared but not overcooked. Remove and place on a large platter.

4. Drizzle with lemon juice and serve.

Seared Salmon with Mediterranean Salsa

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 4-6 salmon filets (each about 1-inch thick)

•       sea salt, to taste

• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

• 1 can quartered or chopped artichoke hearts, drained

• 1 cup diced cucumber

• 1 cup diced cherry tomatoes

• 1/3 cup diced red onion

• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

• 1 handful fresh spinach, chopped

•       balsamic glaze

Instructions

1. In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Sear salmon fillets 4 minutes. Sprinkle tops of each salmon filet with sea salt, to taste. Flip and cook 4 minutes until barely done. Remove to a serving platter.

2. In a medium bowl, make the salsa by gently folding together chickpeas, artichoke hearts, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, feta, and spinach. Sprinkle with sea salt, to taste. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and spoon salsa over each salmon filet. 

3. Refrigerate leftover salsa.