Hey, y’all.
I have a confession: this was my first time preparing scallops at home.
If you know me, you’ll be surprised by this. I love scallops; in fact, they are one of my go-to dishes at restaurants. I think that’s why I had never tried making them at home — they are a treat for a night out. But, after making them, I’m kicking myself in the rear. Why? Because they are SO easy to prepare!
While there are a few specific rules to follow, the process is very simple — you’ll be surprised at just how quickly you can make restaurant-quality scallops in the comfort of your own home!
Helpful Tips:
- Whether you are purchasing your scallops fresh or frozen, you must pat them dry. This is vital to obtaining the perfect sear. Pat the outside – liberally – with a paper towel.
- If you purchase scallops that have a small bit of muscle still attached, remove it before cooking.
- Do not crowd the scallops in your pan; scallops need a few inches of space around them. Otherwise, they’ll steam and fail to sear well.
Pan-Seared Scallops
Ingredients:
Jumbo Sea Scallops
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Butter
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Fresh citrus, to taste
Directions:
- Pat jumbo sea scallops dry with a paper towel. Do not skip this step.
- Season one side of the dried scallops with kosher salt + black pepper.
- Heat a skillet with extra virgin olive oil; when the skillet is piping hot, place scallops in the oil, seasoned side down. Do not crowd them in the pan — they need space to sear. You will know that the skillet is hot enough if it sizzles once you place a scallop down in the oil.
- Season the other side of the scallop with kosher salt + black pepper.
- Sear the scallops for roughly two minutes on the first side. You will know they are ready to flip when the tops have a gorgeous, brown sear.
- Flip the scallops once and sear the other side for 2 minutes. After flipping, add some butter to the skillet to flavor the scallops.
- Remove from the skillet + serve immediately. I like to have fresh citrus on-hand to squeeze on top of the scallops.
- Enjoy!
Now, how easy was that? In less than 10 minutes, you can have restaurant-quality scallops at home. The best part? It’s SO much more affordable.
As always: Happy Eating, Happy Traveling (post-social distancing, of course!), Happy Living.
Y’all come back now, ya hear?
My best,
JC
FTC: This post is not sponsored.
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