Seafood Gratin

Introduction

Seafood Gratin is a classic French-inspired dish that strikes a delicious balance between elegance and comfort. Layered with tender seafood, bathed in a velvety cream sauce, and crowned with a golden, crunchy topping, this recipe is an easy way to serve up sophisticated flavors with minimal fuss. Ideal for dinner parties, weeknight indulgences, or special occasions, its rich aroma and beautiful presentation make it a show-stopping centerpiece for your table.

Deliciously Unique Seafood Gratin

What makes this Seafood Gratin truly shine is its harmonious blend of ocean-fresh ingredients and a delicate, creamy base. Every bite delivers the sweetness of shrimp and scallops, the succulence of flaky fish, and a satisfying crunch from the breadcrumb-parmesan topping. The interplay of textures and flavors ensures this gratin is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for impressing family and friends without spending hours in the kitchen.

Preparing the Creamy Seafood Filling

To create the luscious filling, gently sauté a mixture of shrimp, scallops, and a firm white fish such as cod or haddock until just barely cooked. A quick simmer in white wine, garlic, and a splash of lemon brings out the natural flavors of the seafood. A creamy béchamel sauce, enriched with a touch of Gruyère or Parmesan, ties everything together, coating each piece in luxurious flavor.

Assembling Your Seafood Gratin

Spoon the creamy seafood mixture into a baking dish and top generously with a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, and fresh herbs. A drizzle of melted butter ensures a perfect, crispy crust. Bake until bubbling and golden brown—a few minutes under the broiler at the end guarantees an irresistible, crunchy finish.

Serving Suggestions for a Show-Stopping Seafood Gratin

Seafood Gratin is wonderful served hot and bubbly straight from the oven. Pair it with lemon wedges, fresh parsley, and a simple green salad with vinaigrette for a well-rounded meal. Crusty bread on the side allows you to enjoy every creamy, savory morsel. This dish stands alone beautifully, or can be served as part of a larger seafood-themed feast.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields approximately 4 hearty servings. Each serving contains about 400-500 calories, depending on the seafood and cheese varieties used. It’s a rich and satisfying main course, best enjoyed when you want to treat yourself or your guests to something truly special.

Seafood Gratin (Recap)

Combining sweet, succulent seafood with a luscious, cheesy cream sauce and a crispy golden topping, Seafood Gratin is comfort food with an elegant twist. Its decadent textures and flavors make it an excellent choice for special gatherings or cozy family dinners.

💡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 (200°C). Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add shrimp, scallops, and fish. Sauté for 2–3 minutes, just until seafood turns opaque. Remove seafood and set aside.
3. Pour white wine and lemon juice into the skillet, scraping up any bits from the pan. Let simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
4. In a small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux. Slowly whisk in milk and cream. Cook, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened, 2–3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup grated cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Add the cooked seafood and wine-lemon reduction to the cream sauce. Stir in chopped parsley. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
6. In a bowl, toss panko breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons grated cheese and a drizzle of melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the seafood mixture.
7. Bake for 18–22 minutes, until the gratin is bubbly and the top is golden brown. For extra crunch, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end, watching carefully.
8. Let rest for a few minutes before serving. Sprinkle with extra parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Seafood Gratin is an excellent addition to your weekly meal plan—make it your main event or build a seafood night around it! Save and schedule this recipe to your CookifyAI meal plan, and let the platform create a streamlined shopping list and timeline for you.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities when planning multiple recipes
• Organizes seafood, dairy, and produce by store section for easy shopping
• Helps avoid duplicate ingredients—so you buy just what you need
• Simplifies weekly meal prep and keeps your dinner plans on track

Pro tip: If you’re making another recipe with shrimp or scallops, plan both recipes together and CookifyAI will update quantities so you never underbuy or overbuy key ingredients.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes