Spicy Seafood Mixes for Dungeness Crab, Fresh Swordfish and Other Shellfish and Ocean Fish

Fresh fish in season is amazing on its own, but when you add one of these spicy seafood rubs, marinades or boil mixes, you’ll be elevating the amazing flavors to the next level. Citrus, pepper, bay and basil all have their place in cooking with fresh seafood, but they all have one thing in common. They’re always best when the seafood is at its freshest. One of the best ways to buy live Dungeness crab, fresh swordfish and other ocean fish and shellfish is from an online  seafood market. If you live more than a few hours’ drive from the ocean, it’s almost essential to order your seafood online to ensure really, really fresh fish. Now that we’ve got that bit of advice out of the way, let’s talk spices.

Nearly every culture that makes ocean fish a part of their diet has its own flavors, spices and methods of preparing the seafood found in their region. From the explosive heat of Cajun and Creole spices to the tart citrus of Peruvian ceviche and the piquant savor of Provence and Tuscany, the appropriate spice or marinade can awaken your taste buds to new heights of adventure. Next time you find yourself with a surplus of king salmon or you buy Dungeness crab online, try one of these boil, rub or marinade mixes on for size.

Blackened Seasoning for Swordfish Steaks, Albacore Tuna and Scallops

Blackening is popular in Southern cuisine, and particularly in Cajun cooking. It began as a way of adding color and flavor to firm-fleshed fish like swordfish steaks, albacore and to seafood like diver scallops. Start with the freshest fish you can get. Pat the fish dry and dip it in melted butter, then dredge it in the blacking spices and cook it in a very hot cast-iron skillet or on the grill. You can buy blackening spice mixes, or mix up your own using varying proportions of sweet paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper, black pepper, thyme, oregano and salt.

Old Bay Seasoning

Technically, Old Bay Seasoning is a spicy-salty spice mix marketed by McCormick & Company, but many people refer to spicy crab boil mixes as an Old Bay spice mix. It adds a characteristically Chesapeake flavor to crab, most often used with Chesapeake soft shells. It’s also a delicious way to add extra kick to Dungeness crab. Add the Old Bay Spice to boiling water before dropping in the live Dungeness crab and let them cook in the mix. You can also add Old Bay seasoning to the breading for lightly breaded diver scallops, or sprinkle it on accompaniments to your favorite fresh fish dishes. If you want to mix your own, you’ll want to use mustard, paprika, celery salt, bay leaf, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, allspice, mace, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom and ginger, and adjust the proportions to taste.

Grilled and fried seafood is delicious with minimal spicing, but if you like a little extra kick to your shellfish and ocean fish, try one of these seasoning mixes with Dungeness crab, swordfish steaks, albacore tuna and other seafood.