Seafood is a superfood! It is packed with nutrients and healthy fats, like the omega-3 you can find in salmon, that keep you full all day long, and it is a great source of energy for your little rascals. However, sometimes it seems impossible to serve seafood to your children without them turning up their nose. Here are a few seafood dishes that are sure to have your kiddos screaming for more!
Sophisticated Fish Sticks
This is a twist on those boring fish sticks you find in the frozen section. For gluten-free households, use shredded coconut instead of breadcrumbs for a crunchy coating that tastes just as good! You can serve these fish sticks with your kids’ favorite veggies like roasted carrots or green beans.
Ingredients:
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs (or shredded, unsweetened coconut)
- 2 tablespoons oil of choice
- 1 tablespoon seasoning of choice (i.e. Old Bay)
- 1 1/2 pounds tilapia fillets, cut into wide strips
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil
- Coarse salt and ground pepper
Directions:
- Heat oven to 475 ̊F, and line your baking sheets with aluminum foil.
- Pour the beaten egg in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. Put your fish coating, seasoning and oil in a separate bowl and mix. Dip your fish strips into the egg, shake off the excess and then dip the strip into the fish coating, pressing it onto the fish, so that it sticks. Place each fish stick onto the baking sheets about an inch apart from each other.
- Bake the fish in the oven until they are lightly brown for about 13 minutes. Rotate your baking sheets after 5 minutes to ensure even cooking. Serve your fish sticks with dipping sauces and veggies. Enjoy!
Spaghetti with Bacon and Shrimp
Most kids love pasta, so this might be an easy one for them to enjoy. It is a simple spaghetti dish with the addition of bacon and shrimp to give it flavor. The taste of bacon can mask the shrimp if you have some picky eaters, and you could even add-in other family favorites like peas or cherry tomatoes to give this dish some color.
Ingredients:
- 2 strips bacon, chopped 6 scallions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- 8 ounces large peeled and deveined frozen shrimp, thawed and halved horizontally
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Coarse salt and ground pepper
Directions:
- Bring a large pot of water to boil, and cook the pasta to preference. While the pasta is cooking, fry the bacon in a skillet and set aside to cool on a paper towel. When the pasta is done, reserve a cup of pasta water and drain the pasta.
- Add the shrimp, garlic and scallions to the skillet and cook until the shrimp turn pink. Now, add the cup of reserved pasta water to the skillet and cook until it comes to a boil.
- Add the shrimp mixture, bacon, and lemon juice to the cooked pasta and toss to combine. Top with some Parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Simple Salmon Burgers
This version of a hand-held classic sneaks some omega-3’s into your kid’s diet! Burgers are easy to make and easy to eat, making them the perfect weeknight meal. Season your salmon burgers however you’d like, and pair them with some sweet potato fries or oven-baked potato chips.
Ingredients:
- 1⁄2 cup panko bread crumbs (or almond meal for a gluten-free option)
- 1 pound salmon fillet
- 1⁄2 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1⁄2 cup chopped, dried red pepper
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
- 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
Directions:
- Remove the skin from the fish and finely chop the salmon. Add salmon and remaining ingredients to a bowl, and combine. Form the mixture into 4 patties that are 1⁄2 an inch thick.
- Heat a skillet to medium heat, and cook burgers about 4 minutes on each side until the center feels firm.
- Serve the burgers on your choice of bun and top with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
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