Last night there was a spontaneous shellfish party on the houseboat. Peter's son Robin came over in the afternoon and we wanted to enjoy the last summer on deck. And then we got hungry ... and then accidentally we go and buy seafood.
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ShareTake the opportunity to enjoy the summer
Even for us, some kind of everyday life has begun. I'm working from home on an assignment for the Karolinska Institute and Peter screwed on the campervan yesterday (I'll tell you soon!). Then Peter's son Robin came over, and we agreed that we must take the opportunity to enjoy what may be the end of this fantastic summer. We went shopping for crayfish, prawns and a Västerbotten pie and when Alexandra finished work it was ... seafood party!
Months ending in R
Shellfish season is (almost!) here. You can eat seafood at several times of the year, but it's best in the months ending in R, they say - between September and December. Especially when it comes to crab, we tend to follow that advice, and that's when you can find the best fresh crabs in the shops.
Which seafood do you like best?
We love prawns and crayfish, and also mussels of various kinds. We think (actually, at the risk of contradiction now, haha) that lobster is a bit overrated. So it's good, but not really as good as it costs, so to speak.
Our absolute favourite is whole crab with courtmaster sauce - yum! That season is coming up now, and considering we didn't eat a single crab last year, we're definitely going to enjoy crab this year! Which seafood do you like best? If you like seafood, that is ...?
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Bacon wrapped dates - a sweet and savoury snack for the party!
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BeautifulLittleLife says:
Fun with spontaneous parties! Shrimp and mussels are really good!
25 August 2016 - 6:29
Snows says:
Prawns and crayfish are my favourites! Never wrong 😀
25 August 2016 - 6:45
Lennart says:
Love all seafood!
Best eaten on the shores of the Mediterranean!
25 August 2016 - 7:02
nils-åke hansson says:
Prawns, Norway lobsters and Swedish crayfish are what we want.
25 August 2016 - 7:11
Alexandra says:
Mmmm seafood! The best there is. I love prawns and crayfish and like you, lobster is overrated! I am not so fond of crab though. In Australia I had a seafood called Moreton Bay bug, it was really good! It was a bit like a big crab tail, you can google and see what it looks like if you don't already know. 😀
25 August 2016 - 7:28
admin says:
Vackralillavardag, sometimes things are best when you have no expectations 😉.
Znogge, we don't eat crayfish very often, but I agree, very good!
Lennart, the environment does play a big role!
Nils-Åke, lovely goodies!
Alexandra, sooo interesting! I googled, and it looks like an ancient animal!!!! Glad that it tastes good 🙂
25 August 2016 - 7:53
Mrs Kerstin says:
What a wonderful blog. I stayed here for a long time and found a lot of nice things to look at and interesting reading. Thank you for commenting with me. I will come back :=)
25 August 2016 - 8:13
åsa in åsele says:
I think I like spontaneous parties more than seafood 😉.
Or... I like shrimps 🙂
Västerbotten pie is good.
25 August 2016 - 8:35
Nicki says:
Wow, this is so good, I'm hungry and want seafood....
thank you for visiting me and have a nice day...
25 August 2016 - 9:10
Jenn - forever abroad says:
Love it when you happen to go and buy seafood 😉.
I think I like shrimps best, because they are the easiest to eat too!!! Haha...
Then I remember the crabs in India, which you went and bought from the fishermen and then went to the restaurant and asked them to cook them - of course in some spicy tomato curry sauce. My hands and lips were burning from all the chilli, but it was delicious! Found a post from this festive meal: http://jennifersandstrom.se/2013/09/23/one-fish-many-fish/
I think I've barely eaten lobster...
25 August 2016 - 9:11
Ama de casa says:
But so nice! Spontaneous parties are never wrong - then no pre-planning is required, which suits me perfectly 🙂 ).
Hmm... Shrimps, fresh from the west coast are probably unbeatable. Or by the way, sea crayfish from the same place would be my answer. Soooo good! Unfortunately, I have not eaten them so often, but damn how good they are! 🙂
25 August 2016 - 9:28
Ann-Sofie says:
Seafood, oh mmmmm. Gottgottigottgottgott. But it should be the Swedish seafood.
The prawns found in the Mediterranean, or even the Caribbean for that matter, are not good. Even if you boil them yourself in plenty of salted water, they have the wrong consistency and taste tinny.
We can find crabs here in Portugal, but if we are unlucky, they are only available ready-cooked. They have been cooked in ordinary tap water and without dill. Tastes nada and is NOT worth the money.
Lobster, I agree with you Helena, not really worth all the money. But to buy the frozen 300 gr lobsters, divide lengthwise, take out the meat and make a good stew on the meat and some mushrooms, cognac and chilli powder as a flavouring, fill the shells with the stew, sprinkle the Västerbotten over and into the oven. mmmmm it will be good.
So the only time I really long for Sweden is in the autumn. The shellfish season.
The Caribbean lobster that everyone talks about so much. Don't cook it, it will only be tough. It can only be grilled and you have to add lots of spices to give it any flavour.
25 August 2016 - 9:36
Marina says:
So cosy!!! Seafood is fantastic, but if I have to choose, it will probably be "real" fresh Swedish shrimp and crayfish. Although those honest frozen crayfish are also really good (haven't eaten any yet this year, but that will probably change!), On the other hand, I'm not so very fond of crab, it's ok, but no more. may be because I find it so difficult to get so much more than the claw content, which in itself is very good.
25 August 2016 - 9:46
Fantasy Dining says:
We actually had a spontaneous seafood dinner yesterday as well. with lots of oysters... yum!
25 August 2016 - 9:56
Ditte says:
What a nice evening but so much good! The weather was perfect too!
I'm very fond of seafood, but I can't say that crayfish is very filling, it's mostly salt water. But it's more the atmosphere ...
I am very fond of crayfish and eating them freshly caught and cooked in Bohuslän is an experience. Crab is good, I also like mussels and of course fresh lobster, but it is expensive.
I am also fond of prawns and preferably freshly caught/cooked.
25 August 2016 - 10:24
Mrs Eriksson says:
Wooo marvellous & what a lovely picture 🙂 .
Enjoy!
25 August 2016 - 10:30
Goatfish says:
Great first picture 😀.
I like to eat fresh prawns. Even mussels. Yummy. Otherwise, I'm not a seafood fan.
In my youth, it was very popular to serve crab sandwiches with mayonnaise, but the crab was bought in cans.
Have a lovely weekday Thursday 😀.
25 August 2016 - 10:48
Åsa says:
But, red wine with seafood, Peter?!
25 August 2016 - 10:52
Berit says:
Yes, yesterday was like a warm high summer day, and such days should definitely be taken advantage of and enjoyed!
My favourite seafood is definitely freshly cooked crab from the west coast or the Norwegian one (available soon in stores), also like fresh shrimps and crayfish. Greetings desires☀️
25 August 2016 - 11:02
admin says:
Kerstin, thank you for your kind words! Glad to hear that you like our blog!
Åsa in Åsele, spontaneous parties are always nice, and prawns are one of my favourites too!
Nicki, it's always easy to get a craving for seafood 😉.
Jenn, what fun to hear how you do it in India! It looked good in your pictures, but not exactly EASY to eat, haha.
Ama de casa, I agree that prawns, and even Norway lobsters, from the west coast are divine 🙂 ).
Ann-Sofie, I totally agree with you that shrimp in the Mediterranean is something completely different. We bought shrimp when we travelled there too, but we never ate them naturally or on a sandwich like here in Sweden. Instead we fried them with garlic and chilli 😉 Thanks for the tip on cooking frozen lobster. Doesn't sound stupid at all!
Marinated, fresh seafood from the west coast is of course great, but I agree with you that the frozen regular crabs are usually good too!
FantasyDining, luxurious! We have eaten oysters from time to time, but I like them most if you have some strong spice on them 😉.
Ditte, of course it can be a little difficult to get full on just crayfish, but together with a Västerbotten pie it is excellent! And then there is the atmosphere of course 😉 .
Mrs Eriksson, glad you like the picture. I kind of tried to back up to get everyone in the picture, but if I had backed up more I would have fallen off the boat 😉.
Geddfish, crab meat can be used in all sorts of ways and as a filling in different things, so why not on a sandwich?
Åsa, haha, he claims it's fine... but the rest of us preferred white 😉.
Berit, glad you like crab too. We have often bought the Irish one actually, usually not too bad.
25 August 2016 - 11:04
bia says:
I love crayfish and have eaten a lot in August....maybe there will be more when we come home from Mallorca where we are going on Saturday...it will be fun!!!
Great picture !!!
Food hugs
25 August 2016 - 11:22
Dryden - Traveller's Edition says:
Mmm... preserving summer emotions. World class!
25 August 2016 - 11:31
Mr Steve says:
How delicious! Good to take advantage now that summer has returned.
25 August 2016 - 12:01
Bosse and Gerd says:
Our favourites are:
1. Norway lobsters
2. Small mussels in a creamy sauce with small pieces of yellow onion
3. Small mussels in a mild garlic sauce
Now we get really excited again...
25 August 2016 - 12:11
Mum c says:
Spontaneous dinner is never wrong and so when there is seafood too. Mumsfilibba in my opinion.
Hugs mum c
25 August 2016 - 16:20
Ruth in Virginia says:
Dungeness crabs at Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco.
Crab Louie salad !!!
Swedish prawns.
25 August 2016 - 17:22
BP says:
Love spontaneous people:-) Oh drool I do too:-)
I can't stand shrimp, but I love crayfish and lobster.
25 August 2016 - 18:41
admin says:
Bia, wonderful with Mallorca! Wish you a nice trip!!!
Dryden, yes, it was really summer feelings 🙂 .
Steve, yes, that's right, you don't know how long it will last 😉.
Bosse and Gerd, oh yes, it all sounds great!
Mum C, mumsfilibabba indeed! 🙂
Ruth in Virginia, oh those first two sounded interesting!!!
BP, good thing you can tolerate other seafood now that you can't tolerate shrimp!
25 August 2016 - 19:48
Rantamor on the retina says:
Love all seafood, it's just too good.
I haven't actually eaten crayfish yet, but maybe on our mountain trip in a couple of weeks.
Hope there is no snow up there !!!!
Tjingelingen from Rantamor, now we have finally got fibre so now I have power and connection here at home.... wonderful.
It has been so difficult to work through my mobile phone.
25 August 2016 - 20:39
Matts Torebring says:
Really good crayfish with lots of dill flavour, fresh prawns and a Västerbotten pie, it's good, we like it!
25 August 2016 - 21:17
Emma, sun like sun? says:
Swedish prawns are number one. Then there is a delicious mix of crayfish, prawns, langostines of all kinds, lobster and crab.
Agree that lobster is overrated but we ate it at New Year, everyone got a whole lobster each, fresh! And yes, it was good!
My mum and dad usually share the crab and I've always eaten it as a child, but it's mostly for the comfort, not so much the flavour.
However, I have eaten cajun crayfish and it was super tasty!
25 August 2016 - 21:22
Emma, sun like sun? says:
As for Peter's glass of red, Mum and Dad are adamant that a bottle of Beaujolais is the best thing to drink with lutefisk. So why not ...?
25 August 2016 - 21:25
Annika Majak says:
Hahaha I agree more with you. Sure lobster is good but it's not that good for what you pay for it 🙂.
25 August 2016 - 22:02
Dessan says:
The spontaneous is the best:) then you usually have the most fun?
25 August 2016 - 22:33
Lena & Jan says:
Crab, prawns, prawns, crayfish, signal crayfish and mussels are our favourites. Once a luxury item, now at least once a week!
Fun when the children and their parents are visiting. The best weather and view on your houseboat inspires a meal of course!
25 August 2016 - 23:05
Susjos says:
I have only eaten crab once, and was a little disappointed, but it was a long time ago, so should actually try again!
Otherwise, I love seafood, perhaps especially fresh prawns!
What a wonderful picture of the party!
25 August 2016 - 23:32
Lena - good for the soul says:
But God, it looks so good! I love seafood. I haven't eaten much lobster and crab. Shrimp and crayfish, on the other hand, I have eaten a lot. So good! And oysters. Good!
Hug Lena
26 August 2016 - 6:57
admin says:
Rantamor, hope you can get some crayfish on the trip and avoid snow! 🙂
Matts, it's good! 🙂
Emma, I also think that Swedish prawns have an unbeatable flavour. Then there are many good and interesting seafood in the south as well. And Peter thanks for some support on the red wine, haha 😉 By the way, I will write more about crab on Sunday!
Annika, but right? However, got a tip here to buy frozen and gratinate somehow. Have not checked what frozen lobster costs ...
Lena & Jan, great to enjoy such goodies every week!
Susjos, glad you like the picture! I will write a bit more about crab and how to eat it on Sunday ðŸ™'
Lena, I mostly like oysters with some strong spice 😉 I will write more about crab on Sunday!
26 August 2016 - 10:58
Lindha Älenmark says:
What a lovely picture! Soooooooo good with seafood 🙂 ðŸ™'
Have fun!
26 August 2016 - 20:45
Aaa says:
I actually ate a seafood platter this summer so I'm quite up to date (haha!) The lobster is a bit stringy and I hurt myself a bit in its claws (habit???) and I have a hard time fully understanding the point of oysters. Mussels are fine, but the best were the crabs and prawns. A bit of each, made in slightly different ways. With good sauce and bread of course.
27 August 2016 - 10:24
admin says:
Lindha, glad you like the picture! It was a wonderful opportunity 🙂
Aaa, I haven't really got the hang of oysters either, even though I like them with some strong flavouring/sauce 😉 Crayfish and prawns are great, I agree. Tomorrow we will also tell you about our absolute favourite: the crab 🙂 .
27 August 2016 - 20:51
Annette says:
So nice pictures as always 🙂 I agree with you about lobster, clearly overrated. The spices are good, but the lobster meat itself is not something I long for. I am not overly fond of crayfish either, if they are cold. But if you eat them warm, according to the Cajun recipe, then it's good! I should give crab the chance again, last time I didn't like the flavour. Now I am a few years older and may have developed the flavour a little, so time to try again 😉.
29 August 2016 - 9:54
admin says:
Annette, glad you like our pictures! Interesting about hot crawfish in a cajun recipe. I've heard about that, but never tried it. We have written a how to post about crab now 😉 .
29 August 2016 - 18:16