Catch of the Day: Creative Seafood Recipes

Walleye Wild Rice Cakes with Wasabi Dressing [1]

Cindi Rockwell of Berkley, Michigan, says this recipe, which has two signature Minnesota ingredients, was inspired by the resort her grandparents owned there.

Walleye Wild Cakes with Wasabi Dressing [2]

Pepper-Lime Shrimp and Grits [5]

Mexican flavors give a fresh twist to this classic Southern dish. Best of all, each serving has only 382 calories!

Pepper-Lime Shrimp and Grits [6]

Crispy Beer Batter Fried Walleye with Mango Sweet-and-Sour Sauce [9]

Fresh-fruit sauce brings a lively taste of the islands to down-home beer-battered fish.

Crispy Beer Batter Fried Walleye with Mango Sweet-and-Sour Sauce [10]

Cider-Brined Coho Salmon with Dijon Cream [13]

Freshwater salmon soaks up the flavor of cider-tarragon marinade created by Sally Sibthorpe of Shelby Township, Michigan. She finishes the elegant main dish with a cream sauce scented with aniselike tarragon.

Cider-Brined Coho Salmon with Dijon Cream [14]

Crabmeat-Stuffed Whitefish [17]

Seasoned crabmeat and marsala sauce complement Lake Michigan whitefish in this recipe from The Inn at Kristofer's in Sister Bay, Wisconsin.

Crabmeat-Stuffed Door County Whitefish recipe [18]

Smoked Fish Spread [21]

Smoked fish brings a wonderful heartiness to this creamy appetizer. The recipe is from Chicago's "Fish Guy," Bill Dugan. Top chefs and seafood newbies come to Bill's Fish Guy Market for fresh fish and advice. "My calling is to make sure the simple pleasures of life -- quality and taste -- don't get away," Bill says.

Try the Fish Guy's Smoked Fish Spread on crackers or bread, or scoop it up with bell pepper wedges.

Smoked Fish Spread [22]

Finfish and Vegetables in Papillote [25]

Cooking in paper -- en papillote -- is a simple, elegant way to prepare fish. When the package is opened, an aromatic puff of steam escapes.

Bill Dugan suggests that beginners try this simple method: Sprinkle a fresh 4- to 5-ounce portion of fish with salt, wrap in a parchment bag and steam in a vegetable steamer for 5 to 8 minutes. Serve au jus or with a splash of vinaigrette. He also suggests baking delicate fish 15 minutes in a parchment bag with fresh herbs.

The Finfish and Vegetables in Papillote recipe uses fresh vegetables as well as herbs to create a fragrant main dish.

Finfish and Vegetables in Papillote recipe [26]

Grilled Fish with Moroccan Vinaigrette [29]

Bill Dugan grills fish over coals or tucks it into a foil packet to grill. (You'll get more grilled flavor with the direct method, but the foil packet makes for easy cleanup.) We like the fish with a good squeeze of lemon, served over greens and couscous.

Grilled Fish with Moroccan Vinaigrette recipe [30]

Lobster Roll Salad Sandwich [33]

Here's the Chicago Fish Guy's take on a traditional New England lobster roll. It's like a lobster BLT, but Bill Dugan uses pancetta instead of bacon slices.

Pancetta is a little like bacon, except it's cured with salt, spices and garlic. You'll find pancetta at Italian food shops or at the deli in large supermarkets.

Lobster Roll Salad Sandwich [34]

Lobster Gazpacho [37]

We like the chunky consistency of this colorful and thick fresh, cold soup. It makes the lobster meat go a long way without seeming skimpy. This recipe is from Bill Dugan of Chicago.

Lobster Gazpacho recipe [38]

Curried Coconut Shrimp and Noodles [41]

This pasta-based seafood dish features a flavor-packed broth of ginger, curry and coconut milk. The tender noodles soak it up.

Curried Coconut Shrimp on Rice Stick Noodles recipe [42]

Great Lakes Salmon Chowder [45]

Fish chowder celebrates Michigan, the Great Lakes State (four of the five lakes touch it). Freshwater salmon teams up with two more state ingredients (potatoes and asparagus) for an exceptionally satisfying soup.

Great Lakes Salmon Chowder recipe [46]

Shrimp and Tilapia Ceviche [49]

Ceviche (seh-VEESH) is a Latin American dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in acidic citrus juices until it turns opaque. In this recipe, you'll cook the shrimp and fish in boiling water for a minute (to avoid any problems with using fish that's not perfectly fresh), cool it, and marinate in the original citrus juices, coconut milk and tequila.

Shrimp and Tilapia Ceviche [50]

Corn-Roasted Walleye [53]

Use corn husks to package your fish fillets in this main dish. Roasting the corn salsa intensifies its flavor. Serve with tortilla chips to scoop up any leftover salsa on your plate.

Corn-Roasted Walleye recipe [54]

Grilled Salmon with Pistachio-Basil Butter [57]

A mixture of fresh basil, pistachios, lime juice, garlic and butter tops easy grilled salmon. Store leftover pistachio-basil butter in your refrigerator for up to a week; toss with hot pasta or spread on toasted French bread.

Grilled Salmon with Pistachio-Basil Butter >> [58]

Mexican Shrimp Tostadas [61]

Shrimp flavored with lime top lettuce, black beans and tomatoes in this quick-and-easy main dish.

Mexican Shrimp Tostadas [62]

Golden Trout [65]

Fresh mushrooms and asparagus add seasonal flavor to this skillet-cooked specialty from Grant Street Bar and Grill in Peru, Indiana.

Golden Trout [66]

North Shore Fish Cakes [69]

Every self-respecting North Shore cook makes a version of this traditional old Scandinavian main dish. The father of Grand Marais, Minnesota, native Nancy Lindquist brought his recipe with him from Norway. These tasty fish cakes are based on that recipe. A touch of nutmeg flavors the moist-on-the-inside and crisp-on-the-outside patties.

North Shore Fish Cakes [70]

Willis Family Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp [73]

Peel and devein 1 pound of large fresh shrimp in shells (about 16), leaving tails intact. Rinse; pat dry. Using 8 slices of Niman Ranch Bacon or other bacon (halved crosswise), wrap each shrimp in a piece of bacon, securing with a wood toothpick (neck to tail in a half-moon). To grill, place shrimp on lightly greased rack of uncovered grill over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, or until bacon is crisp and shrimp turn opaque, turning once. (For gas grill, cover and grill as directed.) If you like, serve with your favorite barbecue sauce. Makes 16.

Browned-Butter Skate [76]

Skate wing, orange roughy, flounder or catfish fillets work well in this recipe from Grand Traverse Resort and Spa near Traverse City Michigan.

Browned-Butter Skate [77]

Salt-Crusted Shrimp with Greek Dipping Sauce [80]

"This dish captures all the sun-kissed flavors of the Greek Islands: lemon, garlic, and oregano," says Chicago grilling expert Elizabeth Karmel. "It's become a staple when I entertain."

Salt-Crusted Shrimp with Greek Dipping Sauce [81]