Classic Seafood Gratin: A Comforting Coastal Delight

Introduction

A Classic Seafood Gratin brings the essence of the coast right to your kitchen—creamy, bubbling seafood blanketed in a crisp, golden topping. Elegant yet uncomplicated, this dish expertly balances tender seafood with rich, cheesy depth, all finished under the broiler for restaurant-quality appeal. Whether you’re serving a special dinner or satisfying a seafood craving, this gratin delivers comforting flavor in every forkful.

Why Classic Seafood Gratin Is a Comforting Coastal Delight

Seafood gratin stands out for its crowd-pleasing combination of flaky fish, luscious shrimp, and succulent scallops, all smothered in a silky sauce and topped with buttery breadcrumbs and cheese. The contrast of tender seafood and crunchy gratin topping creates a flawless marriage of textures, making it a standout at any dinner table or gathering.

Choosing the Right Seafood and Components

For the filling, select a classic medley: shrimp, white fish (like cod or haddock), and scallops. These cook quickly and absorb the flavors of the creamy béchamel. Use fresh herbs—parsley and chives are especially brightening—along with a sprinkle of lemon zest to keep the flavor profile lively and balanced. Fresh breadcrumbs, mixed with melted butter and parmesan, create an irresistibly crisp, savory crust.

Assembling Your Seafood Gratin

Begin by preparing your creamy base—typically a light béchamel sauce with an aromatic boost from shallots and garlic. Nestle the seafood into a shallow dish, cover with the sauce, and finish with the breadcrumb-cheese mixture. Bake until bubbly and golden; a few minutes under the broiler results in a perfectly crisp topping that’s sure to impress.

Serving Suggestions for a Classic Seafood Gratin

Serve this gratin with crisp green salad, lightly steamed vegetables, or warm baguette slices for a satisfying, well-rounded meal. A squeeze of fresh lemon over each serving enhances the coastal flavors and counters the richness perfectly. It’s a dish that transforms weeknight dinners or gatherings into a coastal celebration.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 generous servings of creamy seafood gratin, each averaging around 420–500 calories, depending on seafood selection and cheese quantity. Packed with lean protein and calcium, it’s a comforting yet wholesome choice—especially when paired with plenty of fresh greens.

Classic Seafood Gratin: A Comforting Coastal Delight (Recap)

By uniting a medley of fresh seafood with creamy sauce and a crispy gratin top, this recipe reigns as the quintessential coastal comfort food. Its flavors, textures, and visual appeal are guaranteed to make it a sought-after centerpiece for your next meal.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Grease a medium baking dish with a little butter.
2. Pat seafood dry with paper towels, season lightly with salt and pepper, and set aside.
3. In a medium pan, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add shallots and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
4. Sprinkle flour into the pan and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually whisk in the milk and cream. Cook, whisking, until the sauce is smooth and thickened, about 4–5 minutes.
5. Stir in parmesan, lemon zest, and half of the parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
6. Arrange seafood in prepared baking dish. Pour sauce evenly over seafood.
7. In a bowl, combine breadcrumbs, a drizzle of olive oil, remaining parsley, and a bit more parmesan. Sprinkle evenly over the gratin.
8. Bake 18–22 minutes or until the top is golden and the sauce is bubbling. For an extra-crisp topping, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end, watching closely.
9. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Finish with extra parsley and a squeeze of lemon if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Classic Seafood Gratin fits seamlessly into weekly meal planning—make it ahead, refrigerate until ready to bake, or prep extra servings for future dinners. Save and schedule this recipe to create a master plan for your week, and generate consolidated, smart shopping lists that include all the ingredients you need for every meal.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically totals ingredient quantities across all your planned recipes
• Organizes your grocery list by store section for stress-free shopping
• Minimizes food waste by tracking ingredient overlaps
• Keeps your dinners fresh, varied, and efficient to prepare

Pro tip: With CookifyAI, schedule multiple recipes, like this gratin and a fresh salad, and watch your list update in real time—no missed ingredients or duplicate buys, just effortless meal prep and shopping.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Enjoy the flavors of the coast—straight from your kitchen!