These 11 Seafood Recipes Are Like Summer on a Plate (or in a Bowl)

We've teamed up with Brancott Estate to get you ready for warm-weather entertaining with a few of our favorite seafood recipes, plus the best sips to pair 'em with—like their award-winning Sauvignon Blanc.

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Crab cakes, lobster rolls, spaghetti and clams, crispy fish tacos—it's hard to deny that summer is one of the best seasons for enjoying seafood. And this year, we plan to be eating a lot of it with our friends and family, whether for casual weeknight dinners or full-blown barbecues and backyard spreads.

So we rounded up a few of our top recipes starring the fruits of the ocean, plus our pick for what to sip alongside your summer feasts: a crisp Sauvignon Blanc with aromas of sweet ripe fruit, like the one from Brancott Estate. Not only is it versatile enough to pair with a variety of dishes and ingredients, but it's also an easy win for a gathering (just chill a couple bottles, break out the wineglasses, and you're set).

1. Smoky Seafood Fideos

Stewy, smoky, and filled with all kinds of seafood (shrimp, clams, mussels, and the like), fideos will transport you to southern Spain—even when you're just lounging in the backyard with a glass of crisp white wine.

2. Crispy Salmon With Corn, Blackberry & Shishito Salad

Seasonal favorites like charred corn and juicy blackberries star alongside crispy fillets of salmon in this simple yet dinner-party-worthy dish. Feel free to swap in any protein that suits your fancy, from pork to grilled chicken.

3. Skillet-Grilled Fish Tacos with Cilantro-Lime Crema

Nothing says summer quite like fish tacos—and this recipe is one of our faves, complete with a cilantro and lime crema we'd happily drizzle over all kinds of savory dishes.

4. Jalapeño Corn Soup with Seared Scallops

Whip up a big batch of this soup the day before you plan to have company over for dinner, then reheat and quickly sear the scallops just before serving (it only takes a few minutes). It'll be a showstopping dish no one will guess you made almost entirely ahead of time.

5. Flip-Side Lobster Lettuce Wraps

Everything you love about lobster rolls—only instead of serving them in a bun, you use crunchy-cool lettuce wraps; don't worry, though, you'll still get those buttery, bready notes via the brioche crumbs sprinkled over top. Perfect for a light lunch or on a platter as an appetizer, it's always great next to a glass of Brancott Estate's Sauvignon Blanc.

6. Pesto Risotto for One With Shrimp

This creamy, gloriously green pesto risotto might be designed for a solo diner, but it's easily batched up for a crowd. Serve it with buttery shrimp and a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc, and—voilà—the ideal summer meal.

7. Crab Cakes

Right up there with the other summer food classics, crab cakes are a staple—and this version is our very best. It's got the optimal ratio of crabmeat to binder, so you get the maximum amount of flavor without having to worry about it falling apart.

8. Turmeric Fish Balls With Peanut Sauce & So Many Herbs

You can turn any minced meat (or fish) into a meatball, according to Resident Sohla El-Waylly, and these Vietnamese-inspired fish balls are just one delicious example. Toss them into a wrap with crisp veggies, herbs, and spoonfuls of peanut sauce, serve them over white rice, or eat 'em straight from the pan—you really can't go wrong.

9. Louisiana Barbecued Shrimp

Our founding editor and resident Genius, Kristen Miglore, describes this shrimp as "that sort of magical dish that's intensely flavored, super fast to cook, and perfect for entertaining." And with more than 50 glowing reviews, we'd have to agree.

10. Steamed Fish with Ginger & Scallions

A whole fish will steal the show on any dinner table based on looks alone, but it's the flavor in this aromatic steamed version that will really bring the oohs and aahs.

11. Jasper White’s World-Famous Lobster Rolls

For a more traditional take on the lobster roll, you'd be hard-pressed to find one better than Jasper White's world-famous recipe (it is world-famous, after all). The secret's in the gentle steaming of the lobster, plus that special tarragon mayo.

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What's your go-to summery seafood dish? Tell us in the comments below!

This summer, we're sipping the award-wining Sauvignon Blanc from our friends at Brancott Estate—with crisp fruit and floral notes, it's an excellent match for warm-weather fare from buttery lobster to tender scallops.