Description
Succulent lemon garlic butter scallops bring coastal elegance to dinner tables with minimal effort. Silky seafood sings with zesty Mediterranean flavors, promising restaurant-quality magic that you can easily craft in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood:
- 1 1/4 pounds (600 grams) scallops
Fats and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup dry white wine or broth
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 4–5 large garlic cloves (or 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic)
- Salt to taste
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
Instructions
- Defrost frozen scallops in cold water, carefully remove side muscle, and meticulously dry with paper towels to ensure crisp searing.
- Preheat large skillet to medium-high heat with olive oil until it shimmers, creating an ideal cooking surface for scallops.
- Arrange scallops in a single layer, avoiding pan overcrowding, and season with salt and pepper. Sear for 2-3 minutes until a golden-brown crust develops.
- Flip scallops and cook an additional 2 minutes, ensuring they turn opaque and achieve a light, crispy exterior. Transfer to a separate plate.
- In the same skillet, melt butter and scrape up caramelized scallop remnants. Add minced garlic and sauté until aromatic, approximately 1 minute.
- Deglaze pan with wine or broth, simmering for 2 minutes until liquid reduces by half. Incorporate remaining butter and fresh lemon juice.
- Remove skillet from heat, gently return scallops to warm through, and sprinkle with chopped parsley for a vibrant finish.
- Plate over preferred accompaniments like rice, pasta, garlic bread, or steamed vegetables for a complete, elegant meal.
Notes
- Ensure scallops are patted completely dry to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust and prevent steaming instead of searing.
- Use a stainless steel or cast-iron skillet for the best caramelization and flavor development when cooking scallops.
- For gluten-free option, replace wine with chicken broth or white grape juice and serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain high heat and create a crispy exterior, which is crucial for restaurant-quality scallops.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 188 kcal
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg