Seafood on a Budget for the Silly Season Get-Togethers

Seafood in summer—is there anything better? As the silly season approaches, we’re all thinking of ways to do the most while still paying the least. Thankfully, Australia has an abundant seafood market so you don’t have to compromise on taste or quality. No matter your budget, you’re guaranteed to find a low-cost option that still pleases a crowd. 

Buying low-cost seafood doesn’t mean settling for canned tuna, canned salmon and frozen fish. When buying seafood on a budget, it’s helpful to know what exactly to look out for whether you’re searching online, at your local grocery store or even at the fish counter. To help, we’ve put together some of our top tips when buying fish or seafood this Christmas or New Year.

• Buy local & in season. Fresh and delicious seafood is available all year round, but if you’re searching for a specific type this silly season, you may have some trouble. What’s perfect for Easter isn’t necessarily what’s readily available come summertime, so be aware of what’s in season so you can get the tastiest pieces available without breaking the bank.
• Downsize. While bigger may look better in your seafood spread, extra large prawns or jumbo oysters will quickly cut into your budget. Instead, opt for a smaller variety to save your wallet while still enjoying a range of delicious flavours. Small, populous and short-lived fish tend to be more readily available at a lower cost, so always keep an open mind when shopping for  Christmas lunch. 
• Swap the cut. Buying filleted fish is great for those with limited preparation time, but buying cut-offs or whole fish will allow you to get more seafood at a lower cost. While it  may seem like a difficult task, it’s actually easier than you think to fillet fish at home . If you’re not up for the task, then a whole fish is an impressive and tasty dish for special occasions! 
• Trust the experts. Don’t worry; you’re not expected to be a seafood connoisseur! That’s why the experts are here to help. We have a range of online resources to help you  choose and cook your seafood, as well as in-depth descriptions of every product so you know what you’re getting. Better yet, we have the expertise and experience to provide you with the best quality seafood available while still offering budget-friendly options.
• Go for versatility. You may want to go for variety in your purchasing, but the world is your oyster when it comes to food preparation. Instead of opting for more, make more from what you have! Some school prawns will pair perfectly with pasta, salad or dipped in seafood sauce. As for fish, even the cheapest types can be used in a multitude of ways with a variety of delicious marinades or assorted seafood recipes. 

While fresh salmon, mussels, a giant lobster or crab may be out of the picture, you can still enjoy a delectable spread that won’t break the bank. After all, there’s no need to settle for less just because you’re after seafood on a budget.  

Looking for the best way to buy seafood this silly season? Here are our top 3 budget-friendly seafood recommendations for every family!

Rainbow or Ocean Trout

Salmon is an Aussie favourite, but it’s not always readily available or within budget for holiday get-togethers. Thankfully, rainbow or ocean trout are more affordable and equally delicious alternatives, even offering similar key nutrients like protein, vitamin B12, and omega 3 fatty acids. Similar to salmon in both texture and colour, trout offer a more subtle fishy taste that makes it easy to incorporate into your seafood spread. Farmed in the cool waters south of Australia, rainbow and ocean trout are readily available all year long, making them both relatively cheap options well into the silly season.

If you’re not accustomed to cooking fish, trout is an easy-to-prepare option that will make your event planning a breeze. The high-fat content makes it great for baking or grilling, giving you a succulent end result that just falls off the bone. We recommend keeping it simple by seasoning with oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice, but our ginger shallot trout recipe brings some more complex flavours to the table. Even cooking it on the barbecue will draw out some delicate flavours, especially when stuffed with fresh herbs for a sunny summer day. Serve with a side of salad for your new Christmas favourite!

School Prawns

When you think of prawns, your instinct might be to buy big. There’s no doubt that tiger prawns and king prawns will impress any guest with their size, but school prawns are a tasty and budget-friendly seafood option that you’ll love in so many forms. The sweet taste makes them a great choice for the whole family—even for those picky eaters who aren’t normally fond of seafood. Straight out of Australia’s coastal waters, these small yet delicious crustaceans are best eaten fresh, and they work perfectly on their own or in a more complex dish.

Easy to cook and incorporate into your holiday menu, school prawns are a versatile option that you can incorporate into a multitude of meals. Start off the festivities with a greek-style prawn cob loaf that’s just bursting with flavour, or let the prawns really steal the show in their very own prawn cocktail. Boiling them or cooking them on the barbecue makes for a quick and delicious recipe for any Christmas banquet, especially when served with fresh seafood sauce. We recommend frying them whole—shell and all—with a salt and pepper batter. No matter how you cook them, these flavoursome prawns will pair well with virtually anything.

Garfish

Caught in bays and estuaries across Australia, garfish are abundant and incredibly delicious. As short-lived schooling fish, they’re available at a low price while still being tasty, versatile and perfect for your summer festivities. The sweet flavours and delicate meat make this an appetizing choice no matter the crowd.

Though people tend to avoid garfish because of their fine bones, when cooked correctly, they cause no discomfort at all. When floured and fried, a lot of the small bones will disintegrate easily, making for a simple yet delicious addition to your seafood spread. When baked with a buttery crumb, the sweet flavours can really flourish, making garfish a must-have for this holiday season. 

No Aussie Christmas is complete without fresh seafood, but there’s no need to scramble to your local grocery stores during the peak holiday rush. At Manettas, we offer the highest-quality seafood delivered straight to your door, from classic shrimp and shellfish through to salmon, sardines, white fish and more. With years of experience and a team of industry experts, we’re dedicated to bringing you fresh fish and sustainable seafood that you (and your family) will love this holiday season.