Seafood Gratin (French-Style) 🦐🧄🇫🇷 Creamy, Briny, and Baked Under a Buttery, Golden Parmesan Crust

This is elegant comfort with a coastal French soul — tender seafood baked in a garlicky, wine-laced cream sauce, blanketed with Gruyère and breadcrumbs, and crisped to perfection. Think of it as the lovechild of lobster thermidor and classic potato gratin — but lighter, more briny, and absolutely spoon-worthy.

Serve it with crusty bread, a green salad, and a chilled glass of white Burgundy.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

Seafood mix

• ½ lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• ½ lb scallops or white fish (like cod or haddock), cut into chunks
• Optional: ¼ lb lump crab or mussels (pre-cooked or steamed)
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

For the sauce

• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 shallot, finely minced
• 2 tbsp flour
• ½ cup dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay)
• ¾ cup seafood stock or chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp fresh thyme or tarragon
• Salt and white pepper to taste
• Optional: pinch of cayenne or nutmeg

Topping

• ½ cup Gruyère or Emmental, shredded
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp melted butter
• Optional: chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Seafood

Lightly season seafood with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Set aside while you prep the sauce. If using mussels or pre-cooked crab, hold them until assembling.

Step 2: Make the Sauce

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add shallot and garlic, sauté 2–3 minutes until soft but not browned. Stir in flour and cook 1–2 minutes.

Deglaze with white wine and reduce by half. Slowly whisk in seafood stock, then cream. Simmer 3–5 minutes until thickened. Stir in mustard, herbs, and season with salt, white pepper, and a pinch of cayenne or nutmeg if using. Taste and adjust.

Step 3: Combine and Assemble

Fold raw seafood into the warm sauce (except crab/mussels if already cooked). Gently mix. Pour into a buttered 2-quart baking dish or individual ramekins. Nestle in crab or mussels if using.

Mix panko, cheeses, and melted butter in a bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the top.

Step 4: Bake

Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15–20 minutes, until bubbling and golden. Broil 1–2 minutes at the end for an extra-crisp crust, watching closely.

Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Flavor Variations

• Use lobster tail or langoustine for luxe upgrades
• Add sautéed leeks or fennel for sweetness
• Infuse sauce with saffron or Pernod for a Provençal twist
• Swap Gruyère for Comté or aged white cheddar
• Stir in mushrooms or spinach for texture contrast

Pro Tips

• Don’t overcook the seafood — it finishes quickly in the hot sauce
• White pepper gives cleaner heat than black — perfect here
• Deglaze well — wine reduction adds depth
• For dinner parties, bake in individual ramekins for bistro vibes
• Serve with crusty baguette to mop up the sauce — non-negotiable

Final Thoughts

Seafood Gratin is buttery, refined, and comforting — French bistro fare baked in a casserole dish. Creamy inside, crispy on top, with layers of seafood, herbs, and wine that feel indulgent without being heavy.

Sauté it. Bake it. Break the crust. 🦐🧄🇫🇷🔥

🦐 More Coastal Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection of Seafood Recipes covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

• 🐟 Classic Seafood Dish Recipes – Think pan-seared salmon with lemon dill and timeless coastal favorites.
• 🦞 Delicious Seafood Boil Recipes – Spicy, saucy boils packed with crab, shrimp, and corn. The ultimate feast.
• 🍝 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Elegant and indulgent, like shrimp linguine in a white wine sauce.
• 🍤 Shrimp Recipes – Versatile, fast, and flavor-packed; smoky grills to sizzling stir-fries
• 🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
• 🦞 Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, Buttery & Oven-Ready. Comfort food meets coastal flavor.
• 🥣 Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
• 🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick, delicious, easy recipes bring bold flavor with minimal prep and cleanup
• 🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light, fresh & packed with protein and omega-3s with bright, satisfying flavor
• 🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy, silky rice dishes meet the richness of the sea.
• 🌊 Seafood Stews – Mediterranean, Latin to classic American, hearty stews with satisfying depth in your bowl.
• 🍝🧀 Seafood Lasagna – Lasagna meets the sea in these rich and satisfying delicious twist classic bakes.