Northern Ireland Seafood Trails

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Northern Ireland Seafood Trails

Nine harbour-hopping adventures across the coast of Northern Ireland. Discover the fishing heritage, visit local businesses & try delicious seafood.

04/04/2023

Lightly seared scallops sit on a summery risotto flavoured with peas and lemon. It’s a lovely dish – impressive, but
easy to make, perfect for special family dinners.

INGREDIENTS (serves 4 people):
350g risotto rice
16 scallops (4x per person)
750ml low sodium vegetable stock
125g frozen peas
100g parmesan, grated and a little extra to garnish
100ml dry white wine
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 lemon, zested
1/2 lemon, juiced
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
1 tbsp butter
Mixed leaves to serve

For the risotto, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan on a medium heat. Add the chopped shallots and cook for a few minutes until translucent. Add the risotto rice and toast for a minute or two, continuously moving around the pan, before adding the white wine. Stir well and then add the stock, one ladleful at a time, stirring until the risotto is a nice creamy consistency and the rice still has a good bite.

Mix in the frozen peas and parmesan and gently heat until the peas are cooked through and the cheese has melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper and keep covered on a low heat until ready to serve. Just before serving, stir the lemon zest through the risotto (you can add a splash of stock to loosen the rice off if needed).

To cook the scallops, heat the butter and 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan on a high heat. Add the scallops to the pan, season with salt and pepper and cook for 2-3 minutes (depending on size) on each side, or until golden brown.

Serve seared scallops on a bed of the risotto, along with the mixed salad leaves, dressed with a squeeze of lemon juice.

26/08/2022

Northern Ireland has an incredibly variable coastline
that offers easy access to rich fishing grounds.

The smaller boats potting for lobster and crab fish
on the shallower rocky seabed close to the coast -
look out for buoys marking their pots!

Meanwhile when the weather allows, the larger
boats trawl further out to sea for fish and
langoustine.

Sheltered bays, estuaries and loughs provide the
perfect conditions for growing shellfish and
seaweed, such as the mussels grown on ropes in
Strangford Lough.

Want to find out more about our fishing industry?
Learn something new and have fun while you're
doing it by exploring one of our Seafood Trails.

23/08/2022

Our Portavogie Prawn Chilli Pasta is the perfect mid-week supper - it's super
quick, satisfying and the spicy prawns really pack a punch.

INGREDIENTS (serves 4 people):
24 raw Portavogie prawns (langoustines)
400g pasta e.g. penne, linguine, spaghetti, tagliatelle
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 red chilli (or to taste), finely chopped
400g tinned chopped tomatoes
Lemon wedges, to serve
Fresh basil, to garnish

Cook the pasta according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a
medium heat. and add the prawns. Season with black pepper and cook for 1
minute.

Add the garlic and chilli and cook for another minute before adding the
tomatoes. Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 5 minutes or until the
pasta is cooked. When the pasta is cooked, drain and toss it through the sauce.

Serve immediately, with a squeeze of lemon juice and garnished with the basil.

21/08/2022

Have you ever played I-Spy in Ardglass before?

On your next trip to the beautiful port town of
Ardglass, see if you and the little ones can spot all of
these things!

Let us know if you manage to get 7 out of 7 in one
trip!

by Piera Cirefice Illustration

02/08/2022

Each Trail will take you on a unique adventure along Northern Ireland's rugged coastline.

All of the Trails help you to discover the many different types of local seafood species that can be found at the seaside, plus, you'll learn about Northern Ireland's rich fishing heritage. There are also plenty of activities to keep you busy along the way!

Keen to get exploring? Choose your Trail, pull on your walking shoes, and don't forget your seafaring spirit!

27/07/2022

A diverse and delicious array of sustainable seafood is harvested around our coastline every day. However, a large proportion of this amazing produce is currently exported to other countries, meaning that our local seafood industry is often undervalued.

The Northern Ireland Seafood Trails have been created to tell the story of our fishing industry and reconnect people with the seafood that’s caught on their coastline.

Learn about our seafood, try something new, and discover the stories and people working to bring it to your plate! niseafoodtrails.co.uk

25/07/2022

Just like most wild foods, fish and shellfish are seasonal. This means that their abundance in local waters changes with the seasons as they migrate and reproduce. It’s important to eat with the seasons, as it means you’re eating what’s locally available and you’ll get the best quality fish.

All of the Trail leaflets have a seasonality section, which tells you when fishermen catch each species and the best time to enjoy them. niseafoodtrails.co.uk

20/07/2022

Have you ever visited Ardglass? 📍

This beautiful town’s name comes from the Irish ‘Ard Ghlais’ or ‘green height’, from an ancient time when the town was encircled by seawater.

Our Ardglass Trail highlights 3 tasty lunch spots, a stunning coastal walk, an old Victorian Bathing House, and the town’s harbour - which is one of Northern Ireland’s busiest fishing ports. The harbour sits in a natural inlet surrounded by luscious green hills and has long been a safe haven for fishing boats.

Look out for the fishermen landing herring into Ardglass harbour if you visit in the late summer months!

🎨 by Piera Cirefice Illustration

18/07/2022

This dish is kind to your pocket and can be prepped in minutes, perfect if you want something delicious and satisfying for dinner, without the fuss! Plus adding herring gives it a protein and flavour kick.

INGREDIENTS (serves 2 people):
2 smoked herring fillets (kippers), flaked
2 medium sized sweet potatoes (or regular potatoes if you prefer)
1 tsp. olive oil
Small bunch of dill, chopped
1 tsp. wholegrain mustard
4 tbsp. fat-free plain yoghurt
Pinch of paprika, plus extra to garnish
Black pepper, to taste
2 handfuls of mixed leaves, to serve

👩‍🍳 Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas mark 4.

🥔 Brush the potatoes with the oil and bake for 40-50 minutes, until tender and soft.

🐟 Mix the rest of the ingredients (except the mixed leaves) together and season well with black pepper. Pile into the baked sweet potato, sprinkling with extra paprika and serving with the mixed leaves.

14/07/2022

In the heart of the quaint seaside village of Cushendall is Harry's, a welcoming family-owned restaurant serving top local produce.

Stop here for a classic fish and chips or perhaps their renowned seafood linguine. Plus it's just a stone's throw from the beach, perfect for a stroll post-seafood feast!

niseafoodtrails.co.uk/cushendall-cushendun

Address

Belfast

Website

https://niseafoodtrails.co.uk/

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