Typical Easter dinners feature a baked ham as the centerpiece, but it doesn’t hurt to try out new recipes to make the holiday extra special. Impress your guests with a special smoked seafood dish, or spice things up with a hearty jambalaya. Either way, you’ll be preparing an unforgettable celebratory meal. To get you inspired here are a few unique recipes you can try out for your Easter get-together.

Recipe Ideas for Easter Gatherings

1. Pineapple-Crusted Salmon

Not only is it just as tasty, but smoked seafood is also a healthy substitute for ham. Use fillets of wild Alaskan smoked salmon to easily portion dishes for each guest and family member. To incorporate a nutritious aspect of traditional Easter meals, this recipe includes pineapple as both a crust and a garnish. Mix finely diced fruit pieces with lime juice and zest, salt, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes. Coat the top of the fish with your mixture before placing it in the oven. Bake for about 10 minutes at 350°, and you have a tender, healthy smoked seafood dish for your Easter dinner.

2. Smoked Sausage Jambalaya

Instead of having to prepare a main course with several different side dishes, why not go with a single recipe that will fill everyone up? Jambalaya with smoked Alaskan sausage is the perfect comfort food for a soothing Easter gathering. Cook one pound of the meat, sliced, at medium-high heat in olive oil until golden brown, then move it to a bowl for later. Add finely chopped peppers, onions, celery, scallions, jalapeños, and minced garlic cloves to the pot and cook until soft. Finally, stir in rice, a can of diced tomatoes, two bay leaves, chicken stock, hot sauce for heat, and sausage. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cover and cook for an additional 20-25 minutes. Your guests will love the savory flavors.

3. Bratwurst Tetrazzini

Everyone loves a good pasta dish, so cook one up for your guests this Easter Sunday. For this dish, you’ll need to brown sliced mushrooms in a skillet with butter. Remove them, then add four tablespoons of butter before blending in three tablespoons of flour. Bring two cups of water to a boil before adding two chicken bouillon cubes. Stir this into the flour mixture, add milk, and continue stirring until thick. Add steak sauce, salt, pepper, one pound of bratwurst, and the cooked mushrooms. Cook noodles and salt to taste, then pour noodles, bratwurst, and sauce into a baking dish. Top it off with grated parmesan and paprika, bake at 425° for 15 minutes, and enjoy.

For an Easter get-together unlike any other, pick up your ingredients from Alaska Sausage & Seafood. They’ve served fresh smoked seafood and sausages to the Anchorage, AK, community for over 50 years. Come into their clean, welcoming facility to choose from a broad selection, or have a gourmet gift basket sent to a loved one. Call (907) 562-3636 today to learn more about their products. Visit their website for additional recipe ideas.