Home
Recipes and inspiration
Best-ever seafood platter

Best-ever seafood platter

High in protein
Peanut free
Nut free
Dairy free
Lactose free

Whether it’s Christmas or summer entertaining, there’s no better way to celebrate and enjoy the warmer weather than with a fresh seafood platter.

Serves10, Makes 1 platter
Prep time20 minutes, + 1 hour standing time

Our best-ever seafood platter is a must this entertaining season. Let's get started by making the sweet and sour red onion that goes perfectly with smoked salmon. Combine the vinegar, sugar and salt in a jug and stir into the sugar and salt dissolve. Pour the pickling mixture over the onion in a small bowl, then set aside for one hour to soak. When it's ready, drain the onion and place in a small serving bowl. Next, make the seafood sauce by combining mayonnaise, tomato sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco sauce in a small bowl. Transfer to a serving bowl, then top with a little harissa paste. Grab a round-bladed knife to gently swirl the harissa paste through the mayonnaise mixture, then season with pepper. To make the tangy ponzu dressing for the oysters, combine the soy sauce, lemon juice, sugar and oil in a serving bowl. Add the chives and lemon zest and give it a little stir to combine. Now it's time to prep the seafood. For the prawns, twist off the head, remove the legs and outer shell, leaving the tail intact. Use a small sharp knife to remove the digestive tract. For the lobster, grab a sharp knife and cut down the centre of the lobster shell to cut it in half. If the shell is really tough, you can use kitchen scissors instead of a knife. Rinse the lobsters under cold water to clean them. Pat dry with paper towel. Build your platter by arranging some ice on a large serving plate, which will keep the seafood cool and fresh. Pop your lobster, prawns and oysters on top of the ice. Arrange the salmon and top with baby capers and a little of the onion mixture. Spoon some ponzu sauce over the oysters and then add the seafood sauce to the platter. For the finishing touches, add some dill, sprinkle some chives and serve with lemon and lime wedges. Coles is your one-stop shop for delicious seafood this entertaining season. Grab a selection of your favorite products then put together this impressive platter.

Ingredients

Crushed ice, to serve
1 Cooked WA Rock Lobster Thawed
1kg Coles Australian Cooked Black Tiger Prawns Thawed
24 fresh oysters
2 x 250g pkts Coles Thinly Sliced Smoked Salmon
1 tbs drained baby capers

Sweet and sour red onion

1 red onion, very thinly sliced
1/4 cup (60ml) red wine vinegar
2 tbs caster sugar
2 tsp salt

Seafood sauce

1 cup (300g) whole-egg mayonnaise
2 tbs tomato sauce
1 tbs lemon juice
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce
Harissa paste, to serve

Ponzu dressing

2 tbs light soy sauce
1 tbs lemon juice
2 tsp caster sugar
1 tsp sesame oil
Finely chopped chives, to serve
Lemon zest, to serve

Nutritional information

Per Serve: Energy: 1481kJ/354 Cals (17%), Protein: 20g (40%), Fat: 28g (40%), Sat fat: 3g (13%), Carb: 6g (2%), Sugar: 5g (6%), Fibre: 1g (3%), Sodium: 1406mg (70%).

Check ingredient labels to make sure they meet your specific dietary requirements and always consult a health professional before changing your diet. View dietary information here.

Percentage Daily Intake information on our recipes is calculated using the nutrition reference values for an average Australian adult.

Method

Step 1
To make the sweet and sour red onion, place the onion in a small bowl. Combine the vinegar, sugar and salt in a jug or bowl and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve. Pour over the onion. Set aside for 1 hour to soak. Drain onion and place in a serving bowl.
Step 2
To make the seafood sauce, combine the mayonnaise, tomato sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce in a small bowl. Transfer to a serving bowl. Top with a little harissa paste and use a round-bladed knife to gently swirl. Season with pepper.
Step 3
To make the ponzu dressing, combine the soy sauce, lemon juice, sugar and oil in a serving bowl. Add the chives and lemon zest and whisk to combine.
Step 4
Arrange ice on a serving platter. Top with lobster, prawns and oysters. Arrange the salmon on a serving plate and top with baby capers and a little onion mixture. Spoon ponzu sauce over oysters. Serve immediately with seafood sauce.

Recipe tip

COOK. STORE. SAVE.
Use it up: Save unused capers for pasta dishes, dressings and salads.

Why to make your own seafood platter

Australia is fortunate to be home to some of the freshest seafood on the planet. Showcase the best our country has to offer with beautiful and impressive seafood platters this summer. Loaded with sustainably sourced ingredients, our cold seafood platter recipe is the perfect show-stopping dish to serve at your next summer or outdoor entertaining soiree, Christmas family gathering or for a sophisticated weekend lunch. When selecting varieties for your cold seafood platter, it’s important to choose sustainably sourced ingredients that are not only good for you, but good for the environment.

Christmas seafood platter ideas to try

Our best seafood platter features beautiful fresh ingredients, including lobster and oysters. For more cold seafood platter ideas, feel free to swap and choose from your favourite ingredients like Moreton Bay bugs, tuna sashimi and scallops. Alongside the beautiful fresh seafood, our platter is served with a number of elements that enhance the natural flavours of the shellfish and fish.

If you’re wondering what to serve with a seafood platter, we recommend a quick sweet and sour pickled red onion, a classic homemade seafood sauce made from whole egg mayonnaise and tabasco sauce, and a light and zingy ponzu dressing of soy sauce, lemon juice and sesame oil. These are just a few easy seafood platter ideas to choose from.

How to serve a seafood platter

Presentation is key when it comes to a fresh seafood platter at home. While it may seem easy to simply lay out the fresh ingredients, taking the extra step and time to thoughtfully place each item onto a serving platter will make the world of difference.

For presentation seafood platter ideas, begin by choosing a large lipped seafood serving platter that can easily hold all the components, including the condiments. Add a layer of crushed ice, then place the lobster in the centre of the plate. Group the remaining shellfish and fish around the platter. Add the pickled onions, sauce and dressing to small bowls and nestle them among the ice and seafood. Fill any remaining gaps with fresh lemon or lime wedges, herbs and baby capers if you prefer.

What drinks to pair with a seafood platter? Serve with a crisp or dry white wine, champagne or a sparkling wine to enhance the delicate, sweet flavours of the seafood.

What utensils do you need for a seafood grazing platter

Have a variety of utensils, plates and serviettes nearby for guests to enjoy this DIY seafood platter. Small forks are perfect for oysters and smoked salmon, while spoons should be kept handy for the sauce and dressing. As an added step, lay out small finger bowls for guests to easily rinse their fingers, and bowls for discarded shellfish and oyster shells.

Love this Christmas seafood platter recipe?

For more ideas and inspiration, see our collection of Christmas seafood recipes and these perfect seafood recipes for Christmas Day.

FAQs

Shop Easter lunch
Everything you need to create an unforgettable Easter lunch.

Shop now
Easter lunch menu
Treat yourself this Easter with our exquisite lunch menu, featuring delicious dishes crafted to elevate your holiday celebration.
Coles responsibly sourced pork.
Our Coles brand fresh pork is Canstar award-winning and Sow Stall Free.