September in Alabama is a transition month: the grill is still in regular rotation, school-night dinners need to stay manageable, and football weekends bring plenty of reasons to feed a crowd. This month’s seafood guide focuses on options that work especially well for those early-fall routines, from quick-cooking shrimp to sturdy fish for the grill.
Seafood selection and availability can vary by Piggly Wiggly location and delivery, so check the seafood department at your neighborhood store for current options.
Seafood to Try This SEPTEMBER
Shrimp
Shrimp fits September cooking particularly well because it moves easily between weeknight meals and weekend gatherings. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor and firm texture, and it cooks quickly on the stovetop, grill, or in the oven.
For a simple dinner, sauté shrimp with garlic, butter, lemon, and a little Creole seasoning, then serve it over rice with okra or green beans. For football weekend, thread shrimp onto skewers with peppers and onions or use it as the centerpiece of a low-country-style boil with corn, potatoes, and sausage.
Alabama’s shrimp regulations reflect an active Gulf Coast fishery, but seafood-counter sourcing and availability can vary. Ask the seafood department if you want information about the origin of a particular selection.
Mahi-Mahi
Mahi-mahi has a mild flavor and firm, meaty texture that holds together well over direct heat. That makes it useful for September afternoons when Birmingham temperatures can still feel more like summer than fall.
Season fillets with blackening seasoning and grill them for tacos topped with cabbage slaw and lime, or bake mahi-mahi and serve it with roasted sweet potatoes and a crisp salad. Its firm texture also works well for fish sandwiches when you want an alternative to fried fish.
Catfish
Catfish belongs naturally on an Alabama seafood shopping list. Its mild flavor and moist texture work with familiar preparations, but it does not have to go straight into the fryer.
For a traditional meal, coat catfish in seasoned cornmeal and serve it with slaw, hush puppies, and sliced tomatoes. For an easier weeknight approach, season fillets with paprika, garlic, black pepper, and a little cayenne, then bake or pan-sear them and add green beans or roasted vegetables on the side.
Salmon
September schedules often call for seafood that can become dinner without much prep, and salmon fills that role well. Its rich flavor stands up to assertive seasonings, glazes, and sauces, while thicker fillets work for baking, grilling, or pan-searing.
Try salmon with a brown sugar and mustard glaze alongside roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli. For a lighter meal, flake cooked salmon over mixed greens with apples, pecans, red onion, and a simple vinaigrette.
Scallops
Scallops can turn a regular dinner into something a little different without requiring a complicated recipe. They are mildly sweet and tender when cooked properly, and a hot skillet is one of the simplest ways to prepare them.
Pat scallops dry before cooking so they can brown rather than steam. Serve seared scallops over creamy grits with sautéed greens for a Southern-inspired dinner, or pair them with rice and roasted vegetables finished with lemon.
Build a Better September Seafood Game-Day Spread
Seafood can work well for football gatherings when you choose dishes that are easy to portion, cook, and serve. Instead of planning everything around one large entrée, use a few smaller seafood dishes that guests can add to their plates.
- Make shrimp easy to grab. Grill seasoned shrimp on skewers or serve cooked chilled shrimp with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.
- Turn firm fish into handheld food. Grilled mahi-mahi can be cut into smaller pieces for tacos with slaw, salsa, and lime. Set out the toppings separately so everyone can build their own.
- Use catfish for sliders or small portions. Cut fillets into manageable pieces before breading and cooking, then serve with buns, pickles, slaw, and remoulade-style sauce.
- Keep seafood food safety in mind. The FDA recommends cooking finfish to an internal temperature of 145°F. Shrimp, crab, lobster, and scallops should become firm and opaque when cooked. Refrigerate or freeze perishable seafood within two hours of purchasing or cooking, or within one hour when outdoor temperatures are above 90°F.
Serve flavorful grilled shrimp skewers for an easy-to-grab seafood option that makes game-day entertaining simple, fresh, and crowd-friendly.
Easy Seafood Meal Ideas for SEPTEMBER
September meals can bridge late-summer produce and the first flavors of fall. Keep preparation straightforward and build dinner around sides your family already enjoys.
- Blackened mahi-mahi tacos: Add cabbage slaw, avocado, pico de gallo, and lime, with black beans or corn on the side.
- Sheet-pan salmon dinner: Roast salmon with sweet potatoes, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts and finish with a mustard glaze.
- Southern catfish plate: Pair baked or cornmeal-coated catfish with slaw, green beans, sliced tomatoes, and hush puppies.
- Shrimp and grits night: Spoon garlic-seasoned shrimp over grits and add sautéed greens or okra for an easy Alabama-inspired supper.
- Seared scallop bowls: Build bowls with rice, roasted vegetables, scallops, lemon, and a simple herb sauce.
For especially busy school nights, frozen seafood can also be worth checking. The FDA recommends thawing frozen seafood overnight in the refrigerator; for quicker thawing, seafood can be sealed in a plastic bag and placed in cold water, or thawed in the microwave if it will be cooked immediately afterward.
Find Seafood at Your Neighborhood Piggly Wiggly
Stop by your neighborhood Piggly Wiggly and ask the seafood department what is currently available. Selection can vary by store and delivery, and the team can help you find options suited to grilling, baking, pan-searing, frying, or your next game-day meal.
Before your next shopping trip, download ThePigBham App on the App Store or Google Play to browse weekly specials, digital coupons, and savings before visiting your neighborhood Piggly Wiggly.