5 Ways to Savor Fresh-Grilled Summer Seafood

(Family Features) Keep the grill cooking all summer long with a family favorite, seafood, and satisfy taste buds with fresh flavors hot off the grates. While some people assume seafood is challenging to cook, it can actually be an easy meal for home chefs of all skill levels.

To ensure your cookout is an unrivaled success, start with seafood that brings superior taste to the table. From crustaceans to a wide selection of unique-tasting oysters and sea scallops, mussels and clams, Maine Seafood offers something for all seafood lovers.

With a coastline that stretches 3,478 miles along the cold, clean North Atlantic, the state is home to a diversity of both wild-caught and farmed species.

Get inspired by these Maine Seafood grilling tips, sure to elevate your at-home seafood experience with the state’s superior taste and quality:

Littleneck Clams
Heat grill to medium-high heat then place littleneck clams directly on grill grates or in a single layer on a large baking pan. After 5-7 minutes on the grill, clams will begin to open. Without spilling juice, carefully place clams on a serving platter. Serve with melted butter or in pasta. Discard clams that don’t open.

Oysters
Place oysters cupped sides down directly on grill heated to medium-high. Cover the grill and cook until oysters open and meat is opaque and cooked through, about 5 minutes for smaller oysters and 8-10 minutes for larger ones. Place on a serving platter, remove top shells and run a sharp knife along insides of bottom shells to detach oysters. Top with garlic butter and serve with lemon.

Salmon
Heat grill to medium-high heat. Pat salmon dry; brush with olive oil and top with seasonings. Place salmon skin side down on grill grates and cook 6-8 minutes, or until meat turns opaque. You can also try a grill-safe cedar plank to infuse added flavor.

Haddock
Heat grill to medium-high heat. Pat haddock – flaky white fish that’s sweet and delicate – dry and brush with olive oil. Wrap fillets in aluminum foil with herbs and seasonings; completely seal with seam sides facing upward. Grill 8-10 minutes, or until meat turns opaque.

Lobster Tail
For a delicious twist this summer, enjoy these tender, tasty Grilled Lobster Tacos with vinegar slaw and cilantro lime crema.

For easy, delicious recipe inspiration and to order seafood straight to your door, visit SeafoodfromMaine.com.

Grilled Maine Lobster Tacos

Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: 8

Vinegar Slaw:

2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon celery seeds
2/3 cup white sugar
1 cup water
1/2 small head green cabbage, shredded or cut thinly (approximately 8 cups)

Cilantro Lime Crema:

1/2 cup sour cream
fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 lime, zest only, minced
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
kosher salt, plus additional to taste, divided
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Lobster Tacos:

Extra-virgin olive oil
4 large (4-6 ounces each) Maine Lobster tails, defrosted
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
8 small flour tortillas
pico de gallo
1 lime, cut into wedges for serving

To make vinegar slaw: In small saucepan over medium heat, heat apple cider vinegar, celery seeds, sugar and water; stir until sugar dissolves. In large bowl, pour mixture over cabbage; cover and refrigerate.
To make cilantro lime crema: In blender, blend sour cream, cilantro, mayonnaise, lime juice, lime zest and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste; refrigerate.
To make lobster tacos: Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
Brush grill grates with oil to prevent sticking. Using kitchen shears, cut lobster shells in half lengthwise. Place skewer through meat to prevent curling during cooking.
Brush lobster meat with melted butter and season with salt and pepper.
Grill lobster tails meat side down 5 minutes then flip.
Brush meat again with butter and cook 5 minutes, or until opaque throughout. Cook to 140 F internal temperature.
Remove meat from shells and cut into bite-sized chunks or leave whole, if desired.
Place tortillas on grill 30-60 seconds per side, or until warmed and slightly brown.
Add drained slaw to tortillas. Top with lobster meat, pico de gallo and cilantro sauce. Serve with lime wedges.