What to Serve with Scallops?
You’ve just made a delicious meal for your family and friends. Your guests are all asking what to serve with scallops, but you’re not sure! Don’t worry, we have some great recipes that will make it easy for you to come up with something tasty. You can find them on our blog post – What to Serve With Scallops?
What are Scallops?
Scallops are a sea creature caught, harvested and sold for human consumption. There are many different varieties of scallops with the most popular being:
Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians):
Native to Eastern North America coast from Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas Gulf coasts. The Bay Scallop is a bivalve mollusk that lives as one of the filter feeding animals on the bottom of shallow waters. It’s organ system filters water causing microscopic plants called phytoplankton to adhere to its gills where it is filtered out then digested for food. They can grow anywhere from 2″ – 3″ in diameter weighing under an ounce each before they reach their harvesting size of up to 5″ – 6″.
Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus):
Native to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Sea Scallop is a bivalve mollusk that has one or two side valves with fine crenelations, common to both sides. It can grow anywhere between 3″ – 24″ in diameter in the wild and weigh over half a pound each before they reach their harvesting size of up to 12″ – 14″.
Sea scallops are divided into two types: True sea scallops, plump-bodied animals that live on shallow sea beds around the world from Massachusetts down through South America; and deep water Atlantic sea scallops, which are generally fished out of the North Atlantic and don’t include Maine’s industry because they are prohibited by law from harvesting them.
Bay Scallops have a sweeter taste with a tender meat texture when prepared, but Sea Scallops provide more durability to cooking preparation. Both varieties are considered an extremely healthy source of protein and fat with virtually no cholesterol and low amounts of sodium levels that are fine for all consumers, including diabetics and vegetarians.
So what are the differences between a Bay and Sea Scallop?
When purchasing fresh scallops at a seafood store you’ll have to decide if you want the delicious sweeter taste of a smaller bay scallop or the larger meaty flavor of a sea scallop which can be anywhere from two to six times larger than its bay counterpart.
The price difference is also worth noting when making your decision as it could determine how many servings you will get out of your purchase. Frozen scallops are not much different in taste but they remain intact more so compared to fresh varieties that tend to disintegrate while being thawed.
How to Buy Scallops?
The most important thing to look for when picking out fresh scallops from a seafood store is color. The eyes should be wide open, clear and vivid with its natural oceanic hue ranging from white, pinkish or pale yellow. It’s not uncommon for your scallops to have a little dark purple tint because of their exposure to oxygen while being handled by the fishmonger at the store.
This is normal so it’s recommended not washing them until you’re ready for use just in case any extra water causes them to become soft and mushy in texture. When purchasing frozen scallops make sure to look for ones with clearly marked expiration dates.
What to Serve with Scallops?
When preparing scallops for cooking you have a few options to choose from: sear, roast or poach. The way you cook them will depend on the type of preparation and side dish that accompanies your meal. Searing is easy and quick but it should be used when serving with other flavor enhanced foods like garlic clove, onions, tomatoes or bacon for example.
Roasting requires more attention because it takes a little longer than searing yet the end result is well worth the wait as they create a rich buttery taste to compliment any rice side dish or vegetable combination. Roasting also brings out more flavor in cooked scallops while tenderizing meat texture at the same time. Poaching is a delicate process where the chef must take extra care to ensure that the scallops don’t fall apart during the process.
Scallop Recipes: 10 Delicious Scallop Dishes to Try at Home
Your scallops are cooked, you have a couple good sides prepared and now it’s time for dessert. There are many different desserts that will compliment your main meal, but you should make sure that the ingredients you use for your side dish aren’t too sweet because the natural sweetness of a scallop already makes them perfect on their own without any extra sugar or flour additives.
A few examples of side dishes that would go well with scallops is fresh fruit medley, rice pudding or even creamed spinach with nuts and raisins! The possibilities are endless depending on your taste buds so give new recipes a try when you’re trying to decide on what to serve with scallops!
1. Scallops and Cauliflower:
The beauty of this recipe is that you can prepare it in under five minutes, so you have little time for messing around when preparing your meal. Ingredients include cauliflower, garlic powder, lemon rinds, parsley or mint (chopped), olive oil and sea salt to taste while the cooking process lasts only four minutes tops which leaves room for serving other delicious side dishes with your main course of fresh scallops over rice with a sprinkling of parsley on top.
2. Scallops with Tofu:
If you’re following a vegan diet but still want to try new things, this recipe is for you! Sautéing tofu in a skillet and adding it with your scallops will give the side dish an extra creamy texture while the garlic powder lends just enough flavor to enhance the natural oceanic taste of your scallops already making them one of the best dishes if seafood around. I recommend serving these two together with rice and a good helping of salad on the side as well.
3. Scallion & Scallop Stir Fry:
This elegant side dish that has a total of 5 ingredients will be perfect for your next dinner get together at home as you can prepare all the ingredients ahead of time and simply sauté everything when needed.
It takes approximately 12 minutes to make this scallop stir fry recipe which is an ideal serving size in comparison to your main course item such as fresh scallops or a good quality frozen seafood brand with no preservatives! The nutrition facts are really low and there’s nothing artificial about this recipe – only pure goodness from the sea.
4. Scallops Tossed with Spinach:
Get your daily dose of vegetables with this easy to follow recipe for being healthy while eating delicious scallops! The onions, ghee and spinach compliment your scallop dish perfectly without overpowering the natural taste of the sea which is exactly what you want in a side dish. This takes approximately 10 minutes to cook so keep that in mind when planning out your meal as it may take longer than other recipes on our list.
5. Scallops & Broccoli:
If you’re looking for a more simple dish, then this recipe will be up your alley! You only need five ingredients – broccoli florets, dried parsley flakes, ginger root (peeled and minced), salt and scallops to make this broccoli dish that compliments your main course perfectly. You should cut the broccoli into even pieces before adding it to hot olive oil in a sauté pan for approximately 4-7 minutes depending on how soft or crispy you like your broccoli.
6. Scallops with Garlic & Parmesan:
Who said side dishes had to be boring? This recipe has an extra punch of flavor that compliments the scallop just right! Now you can take your first course and make it an entree by serving up pasta tossed in olive oil and roasted garlic. It’s a simple preparation taking less than 5 minutes and has a total of 6 ingredients including your scallops for an easy recipe that anyone can follow.
7. Scallop Burgers:
This is one of the few seafood recipes that are especially good when using frozen scallops (to give it more of a homemade feel) as they won’t taste too fishy in comparison to their raw counterparts; this will compliment any burger you attempt to make with them!
You should bake then saute your finished patties in pan sprayed with nonstick spray, so they don’t stick together while keeping the flavor inside – this side dish will go great with sweet potato fries and some fresh lemon slices as well!
8. Scallops in White Wine Sauce:
This one is a bit more extravagant than others, but still easy to make at home – don’t believe that it’s only 7 ingredients! The white wine sauce is simply butter, shallots, white wine, parsley (chopped) and scallions all combined together for a creamy simple sauce without any other unnecessary additives like sugar or salt which you would normally find in sauces sold at restaurants.
The garlic powder adds an extra kick to your dish while the parsley compliments the entire recipe by providing a nice herbal aroma.
9. Sautéed Scallops with Spinach & Garlic:
The simplicity of this recipe is reminiscent of a nice Italian meal, that you probably will find in an authentic restaurant! You only need 2-4 ingredients to make it which makes for an easy to follow recipe while still providing some great flavor… so what are you waiting for?
Get your scallop stir fry on and be sure to have some lemon wedges on hand as a garnish – that way your family and friends can squeeze fresh lemons over their dish which enhances its natural taste even more!
10. Scallops with Orzo and Asparagus:
When entertaining guests, you can’t go wrong with this healthy side dish! It’s easy to make while still being delicious (and looking rather appetizing) – be sure to get your scallop mixture ready before beginning work on your orzo pasta as it will add a bit of time for them to cook together in a sauté pan. This would go great with some lemon on hand as well for an added freshness that compliments the scallops and boosts their natural flavor of the sea even more!
11. Scallops Marinara:
The best thing about this recipe is that it’s fast and easy while still tasting delicious! You can chop up whatever you like (broccoli, cauliflower) or just keep it simple by using spinach; it tastes great with either – be sure to sauté your scallops for only 2 minutes on each side so they don’t get too tough and taste rubbery!
This would go great with any Italian pasta dish if you were looking for a more filling meal as this recipe doubles as a side dish and works perfectly to replace the carb-heavy pasta with something lighter.
12. Prosciutto Wrapped Scallops:
This is an elegant and quick recipe that anyone can cook – with a few simple ingredients, you will have this side dish ready in no time! It might seem like a complicated recipe to make but the prosciutto-wrapping technique is easy for anyone to follow while still making it look fancy; just be sure to watch your scallops so they don’t fall apart or get too tough when cooking them.
13. Scallop Stuffed Mushrooms:
For those of you who are looking for something savory instead of sweet, these stuffed mushrooms would be perfect for any occasion – they are extremely easy to make while still being delicious! Instead of bread crumbs, you will simply need some mozzarella cheese and crushed Ritz crackers; it’s important to be sure that the Ritz crackers don’t have any added sugar in them because this would spoil your recipe!
You can serve these as an appetizer or a side for any meal – no one can resist these cheesy scallop concoctions…
14. Scallops with Bacon and Mushrooms:
This is great if you’re hosting guests who prefer more savory dishes over sweet ones, like bacon, but still want something that tastes great and is healthy at the same time! It’s simple to make and tastes great if you’re okay with that bacon flavor – otherwise, be sure to omit it and bake your scallops in a skillet instead. No matter how you eat these, just remember not to overcook them or else they will end up tasting rubbery.
15. Scallops Wrapped in Bacon:
These are perfect for those who love the taste of bacon; the mixture includes mushrooms as well as spinach which makes for an even more flavorful dish than using only one ingredient so don’t hesitate to experiment with adding other ingredients like squash, zucchini, etc… serve alongside any fish to help offset the taste!
16. Scallops with Honey Soy Marinade:
If you’re a fan of sweet, be sure to check this recipe out! With honey and soy sauce as two basic ingredients, it’s easy to make if you have the right tools on hand – if you don’t, they can easily be found at any grocery store along with your scallops and vegetables!
Be sure to marinate for an hour before cooking so that the flavor really sticks to the scallops (if possible). This is a savory alternative for those looking for something different than just the usual tomato-based marinade.
How to cook Scallops at home?
First, we recommend you buy the best scallops you can afford at the store or fish market. The fresher your ingredients, the better your dish will taste! So always try to get them as fresh as possible and make sure they are still alive before buying (they should be kicking) because this is how you’ll know for sure that they’re freshly caught.
If you want to save some money, buying in bulk would be a good idea but don’t be afraid to ask someone who works there if they went out fishing that day – chances are it was just caught earlier that morning so it’ll still be really fresh!
If you’re new to cooking scallops, try out one of our easy recipes listed above; once you get the hang of it and get some experience under your belt, you can also experiment with other types of marinades from all over the world!
You should be able to cook scallops in some form or fashion – but whether it’s pan-frying or grilling them, here are a few tips. First, prepare any side dishes and fresh ingredients on hand that could potentially mix well together since everything cooks at the same time during this preparation process! Get these prepped beforehand so that you don’t have to worry about them coming out undercooked while you’re working on the scallops at the same time.
Use high heat when pan-frying or grilling to get a nice sear and caramelization on the scallops – this will cook them faster as well as give it that great color. You should also make sure that your cooking tool is properly heated up so that you don’t accidentally end up with burned scallops during the process!
How long can you keep Scallops?
If you have a lot of leftovers, you should be able to keep them in the fridge for up to 24 hours. You can also freeze scallops; if you do, however, use only the portions that are needed immediately and cook the rest prior to freezing so that they stay fresh and won’t go bad!
Cooked scallops will last longer than “raw” ones (so avoid letting these sit out in room temperature or they’ll get worse faster as time goes on). Once cooked, make sure to store them properly – do not place any moist items with your scallops or they’ll spoil!
How to choose the best Scallops?
Find out where the scallops were caught and when (the later it was caught, the better quality); also check to make sure that it’s a fresh catch by looking into its eyes – if they look clear, moist, and full of life, then chances are your scallop is still alive and kicking!
Most likely you can find information about where your seafood was caught online nowadays; however, if not possible – ask either at the store or restaurant itself (they should be more than willing to help). This way you can rest assured that you’re eating something that’s actually good for you.
Common question when cook Scallops
1. How do you know when it’s done?
People think that if the scallops are firm, then it is not cooked. But what you should be looking for is texture and color of your scallops. Somewhere between raw and completely cooked, there comes a time where they start to come off too rubbery or tough. Once your scallops turns opaque in color (a sort of milky translucent) and firm at first but then smooths out, they’re ready to eat! It will also smell fragrant as well.
That means the moisture has evaporated out from them and they are now dry, crispy on the edges, light in weight under your fingers…mmm~ Scallop heaven. So how does it taste? Well, once you bite into them, there’ll be a gentle crunch and then the taste of sweet scallops. So amazing.
2. How to clean Scallops?
Scallops are fast food and easy cook. But cleaning is a bit confusing.
Here are some pictures to clean Scallops.
Then, let’s choose the best looking scallops for cooking.
As you see in picture, it’s dirty and not easy cleaned with fingers or knives.
So how do we clean this? You can use toothbrush or small brush (you can find at restaurant). It works! Maybe better than finger nails 🙂
Then wash them with water thoroughly and towel dry a little bit.
They are ready for cooking now! Just season as you like 🙂
3. How to keep Scallops?
Scallops are tasty and fast food in Japan too.
People often cook Scallop or eat raw. But how do we keep the taste of Scallop longer?
- Soften it in water slightly warm (37~38℃) for 1 hour.
- Then drain the water completely.
- Put scallops with garlic, onion and pepper in a big plastic bag.
- Close it as much as possible, If you can compress them, better!
- After about 12 hours, drain off all moisture completely by centrifuge.
- Keep refrigerated if you use after 2~3 days.
Above is information to answer question “What to Serve with Scallops?” Besides that we also have the Best Scallops Recipes in 2022 and some cooking Tips to have a delicious foods.
Conclusion
Scallops are a great ingredient to cook with and serve. They do not have many parts that need to be removed, they can be served in their shell or out of the shell, and you can also make them into an appetizer by serving them on toast points.
However, as delicious as scallops may be on their own, how should one serve these tasty little creatures? We’ve got some suggestions for you! These recipes will provide inspiration when it comes time for your next dinner party or family gathering. Enjoy!
