The best sauces for seafood

There's nothing quite as satisfying as the crunch of a juicy scallop or the taste of a freshly boiled prawn … but have you ever tried topping that bite with homemade aioli or another sauce? In this article, you'll discover ten sauces that will transform every bite of seafood into a gourmet experience.

Recommended sauces

Here's a list of the most popular and versatile sauces to pair with seafood, with a brief description of each:

Tartar sauce: Made with mayonnaise, pickles, capers, onion and sometimes hard-boiled egg, it is ideal for fried, steamed or grilled seafood.
Pink Sauce (or Cocktail): A mixture of mayonnaise, ketchup, orange juice and brandy or Tabasco, perfect for a spicy and tangy flavor.
Lemon Sauce: Includes lemon juice, butter, white wine and herbs, offering freshness and acidity that complements the seafood.
Garlic Butter Sauce: Creamy and rich, made with butter and garlic, perfect for a comforting touch.
Hot sauce: Can include Tabasco, jalapeño or other chilies, adding a bold and refreshing contrast.
GuacamolePrepared with avocado, lemon, onion, tomato and cilantro, it is a fresh option for seafood salads.
Curry and Coconut Sauce: An aromatic blend that provides an exotic twist, perfect for those looking for something different.

These sauces are versatile and adapt to different seafood preparations, such as shrimp, prawns, or fish. You can adjust the recipes to suit your taste, adding more spice, acidity, or herbs.

10 Sauces that Triumph for Seafood

Below is a table of the most notable sauces, their main ingredients, preparation, and best pairings with seafood, based on the information gathered:

Name of the Sauce	Main ingredients	Music	Best Pairing with Seafood
Tartar sauce	Mayonnaise, pickles, capers, onion, hard-boiled egg, mustard, parsley	Boil egg for 10 minutes, finely chop ingredients, mix with mayonnaise, adjust flavor, and refrigerate. Optional: use a blender for a smooth texture.	Fried, steamed or grilled seafood (shrimp, prawns).
Pink Sauce (Cocktail)	Mayonnaise, ketchup, orange juice, brandy or cognac, optional Tabasco	Mix mayonnaise, 1 tbsp orange juice, 1 tbsp brandy/cognac and ketchup, adjust to taste, refrigerate.	Cooked or grilled seafood, especially shrimp.
Lemon Sauce	Lemon juice, butter, white wine, flour, pepper, parsley, salt	Fry garlic, add flour, white wine, fish stock, lemon juice, cook for 10 minutes, season.	Hake, cuttlefish , grilled baby squid, delicate seafood.
Garlic Butter Sauce	Butter, garlic, optional fresh herbs	Melt butter, add sliced garlic, cook over low heat, optionally add herbs.	Steamed seafood, prawns, lobster.
Hot sauce	Ketchup, Tabasco or hot sauce, orange juice	Mix ketchup, hot sauce and 4 tbsp orange juice, adjust flavor, refrigerate.	Seafood with intense flavor, such as tiger prawns (with caution).
Guacamole	Avocado, lemon juice, onion, tomato, garlic, cilantro, salt	Mash avocado, mix with chopped ingredients, add lemon and salt, adjust flavor.	Seafood salads (salpicón).
Curry and Coconut Sauce	Curry powder, coconut milk, garlic, onion, optional ginger	Sauté garlic and onion, add curry, cook with coconut milk, season.	Exotic seafood, such as tempura shrimp or curry.
Olive tree	Black olives, garlic, lemon juice, herbs (oregano, rosemary, thyme)	Blend all ingredients into a paste, season.	Seafood carpaccio, salads.
Yogurt and Soy Sauce	Natural yogurt, soy sauce, salt, white pepper	Mix yogurt, 4 tbsp soy sauce, salt and pepper, beat until smooth.	Tempura seafood, such as shrimp.
Caper and Lemon Sauce	Capers, lemon juice, olive oil, optional parsley	Mix chopped capers, lemon juice and oil, optionally add parsley.	Grilled fish and seafood, such as cuttlefish.

Seafood is a treasure trove of flavors that deserves the best accompaniment, and these ten sauces prove that, with just a few ingredients and a touch of ingenuity, we can turn any dish into a gourmet experience.