Best Pan Seared Scallops Recipes

PAN-SEARED LEMON AND GARLIC SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Place scallops in a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Cover and let rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Combine 5 tablespoons warm butter, lemon juice, and garlic in a bowl; whisk until combined. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• At the same time, remove scallops from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat, making sure it does not smoke. Brush scallops with garlic mixture and add to the pan. Cook until the bottoms begin to sear and turn golden, about 2 minutes. Flip scallops, brush with garlic mixture, and cook another 2 minutes. Remove scallops from the heat and let them continue to cook while they rest, off the heat, for 5 more minutes. Plate and serve.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH PAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut 2 tablespoons of the butter into pea-sized pieces, put it on a small plate, and stick it in the freezer. Heat a large skillet over medium-heat high for 3 or 4 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the olive oil and wait for the butter to melt.
• Pat the scallops dry with paper towels, add them to the pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper; work in batches if necessary to avoid crowding the skillet. Cook, turning once, until they are well browned on both sides but not quite cooked through, 2 minutes per side (less if the scallops are under 1 inch across; more if they're over). Transfer the scallops to a plate.
• Stir in the garlic, lemon juice, and wine and scrape all the brown bits off the bottom of the skillet with a spatula. Lower the heat to medium and cook until the liquid in the skillet thickens, a minute or two, then whisk in the butter you chilled in the freezer, one bit at a time, to make a creamy sauce, adding another tablespoon or two of liquid if necessary.
• Return the scallops to the skillet and add the chives. Adjust the heat so the sauce bubbles gently and toss to coat the scallops with the sauce. To serve, transfer the scallops to a platter and spoon the sauce over all.
• Variation:
• Seared Scallops With Cherry Tomatoes and Basil: Skip the lemon juice. Cut 1 pint cherry tomatoes in half. Add the tomatoes with the garlic and wine and cook until they wrinkle a bit and release their juice, 2 or 3 minutes. Use chopped fresh basil leaves instead of chives.
• Cooks' Notes
• Releasing From The Pan: The scallops will offer no resistance when they're ready to turn. Press down gently while the scallops cook to encourage full contact with the pan, then listen for a hiss: That's moisture heating and evaporating.
• Getting A Good Sear: The idea is to brown the scallops well on both sides without overcooking them, so keep the heat as high as you can without creating too much smoke.
• Building Sauce With Butter: After you add the liquid and deglaze the pan, the addition of butter develops fantastic creaminess and richness.
• Finishing The Dish: As soon as the scallops are cooked through completely and coated with the sauce, remove the pan from the heat; they will continue to cook. Nick-and-peek into one if you need to check for doneness.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH LEMON

Steps:

• Pat scallops dry with paper towels, and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the scallops to skillet and cook, flipping once, until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining scallops, adding more oil to the skillet as needed. Serve immediately, with lemon wedges on the side.

BASIL PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS OVER PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain, rinse, and transfer to a large serving bowl.
• Meanwhile, place scallops in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the black pepper. Pour mixture over scallops. Arrange scallops in a single layer in a large baking dish or plate. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon dried basil over scallops so that only one side is sparsely coated with basil.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high, and melt one tablespoon of butter in the pan. Place 12 scallops basil-side down, and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes until dark golden brown. Turn scallops, and cook the other side. Cook the remaining 12 scallops the same way.
• In a small saucepan, melt remaining butter with 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon basil, 1/2 teaspoon garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Toss pasta with butter and olive oil mixture. Divide pasta onto plates, and top with scallops.

PAN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH SESAME SAUCE AND CELLOPHANE NOODLES

Steps:

• Soak cellophane noodles in hot water for 10 minutes, until tender. Strain and set aside.
• While the noodles are soaking, in a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallops and season the tops with black pepper. Cook 2 minutes, until golden brown. Flip with spatula and cook 2 more minutes, until second side is golden brown. Add soy sauce mixture to pan and bring to a simmer, for 2 minutes, until sauce thickens and scallops are cooked through and have an opaque color.
• Serve half of the scallops over all of the cellophane noodles and top with scallions. Reserve remaining scallops for salad, if desired.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH BROWN BUTTER, HAZELNUTS AND WHITE TRUFFLE OIL WITH ROASTED FINGERLING POTATOES AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• For the potatoes: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, toss the fingerling potatoes with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the potatoes to a roasting pan and bake for about 25 minutes. Test with fork for tenderness. Remove them from oven to a bowl and set aside.
• For the asparagus: Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the asparagus and blanch until they become bright green, about 2 minutes. Remove and plunge into an ice bath or rinse under cold water.
• For the scallops: Heat a nonstick saute pan over medium heat until very hot and add the olive oil. Season scallops lightly with salt and pepper. When oil is hot, add the scallops and saute the first side until golden brown, approximately 2 minutes. Turn the scallops over, and after 1 minute, add the butter and the hazelnuts. When scallops are seared, transfer them to a plate and keep warm.
• Add lemon juice to the butter and hazelnuts. When the butter has browned add the 2 tablespoons of the chopped parsley. (Add 1 or 2 drops of white truffle oil to the butter, if desired.)
• Toss the potatoes and asparagus in the brown butter until heated through. Transfer the vegetables to a serving platter. Position the scallops over the vegetables and garnish with chopped parsley. Drizzle remaining brown butter over scallops and serve.

SCALLOPS AND MUSHROOMS (PAN SEARED)

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. DO NOT USE A NON-STICK SKILLET.
• When butter begins to foam, add the minced garlic, scallions, and mushrooms and sauté for 2 minutes, or until tender.
• Add the scallops and sprinkle with half of the garlic powder, half of the salt and half of the pepper. Saute covered for about 3-5 minutes, or until the scallops begin to turn opaque (white).
• Turn the scallops over and sprinkle the rest of the garlic powder, salt and pepper.
• Cover again and continue to sauté another 1 or 2 minutes.
• Once the scallops are cooked, remove to a plate and cover the plate with the lid from the skillet.
• Add the sherry to the skillet that contains the butter, mushrooms and scallions and continue to heat for 1 or 2 minutes.
• Place 6 scallops on each of the 2 dinner plates. Spoon the sauce with the mushrooms and scallions over the scallops and serve.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS, CORN, AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Remove tough muscle from side of each scallop if necessary and halve any large scallops. Pat scallops dry with paper towels and in a bowl toss with salt and thyme. In a large non-stick skillet cook bacon over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp and with a slotted spoon transfer to paper towels to drain. Increase heat to moderately high and in drippings remaining in skillet sear scallops, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through. With slotted spoon transfer scallops to a clean bowl.
• In same skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté scallions, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown, about 1 minute. Add corn and tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until corn begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Return scallops to skillet and heat through, seasoning mixture with salt and pepper.
• Serve scallops sprinkled with bacon.

PAN SEARED PARMESAN SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Pat scallops dry with paper towels. Place cheese ¡n shallow dish or resealable food-storage plastic bag. Coat scallops with cheese. Discard any remaining cheese.
• Heat oil and butter in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook half of scallops at a time in oil 3 to 6 minutes, turning once, until golden brown on outside and white and opaque inside. Sprinkle with pepper and chives.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH BROWN BUTTER AND LEMON PAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut 2 lemons in half and squeeze juice into a measuring glass or small bowl; you should have 1/4 cup juice. Set aside. Using a paring knife, cut ends off remaining lemon to expose flesh. Upend lemon on a cut end and remove peel and white pith from lemons; discard. Cut between membranes to release segments into bowl with juice; squeeze membranes to get any last drops of juice. Fish out any seeds; set aside. Thinly slice chives and place in a small bowl; set aside.
• Pull side muscle off scallops, if needed; pat dry. Season lightly on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet, preferably stainless steel, over medium-high. Pour in oil to lightly coat surface (2-3 Tbsp.); heat until it shimmers and you see first wisps of smoke. Swiftly place scallops into skillet, flat side down, and cook without touching, tossing, or fussing until underside is deep golden brown, 3-4 minutes. Use a thin spatula or tongs to gently turn over; if they resist, cook another 30 seconds and try again. Cook on second side until flesh at top and bottom looks opaque but there is still a faintly translucent strip in the middle, 1-2 minutes, depending on size. Transfer scallops to a plate.
• Pour off any oil in skillet and set over medium heat. Add butter and cook, swirling, until butter foams, then browns, about 2 minutes. Add reserved lemon juice and segments; energetically stir and swirl pan to emulsify sauce. Mix in capers and reserved chives and spoon pan sauce around and over scallops.

PAN-SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH CORN COULIS

Steps:

• Remove the muscle from each scallop and discard. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Place half of the scallops in the pan and cook, turning once, until golden brown, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer scallops to a plate and loosely cover to keep warm. Repeat process with remaining butter, olive oil, and scallops.
• Reduce heat to medium; add shallot and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 1 minute. Add wine and scrape brown bits from bottom of skillet. Add corn, cream, basil, and chives. Cook, stirring often, until cream is reduced and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Transfer half of the sauce to the jar of a blender and puree until smooth. Return pureed sauce to the skillet with the remaining sauce, add scallops and any juices that have accumulated on the plate; cook until warm about 1 minute.
• Divide scallops evenly among 4 plates. Spoon sauce around scallops and serve immediately.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine carrot, shallot, ginger, garlic, wine and broth in a medium sauce pan. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat 12 minutes or until liquid is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Strain; discard vegetables and reserve liquid.
• Pat scallops dry with a paper towel. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet that has ben sprayed with nonstick cooking spray over medium-high heat. Place scallops in single layer in pan. Cook until golden brown on bottom, about 4 minutes. Turn scallops. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook about 2 minutes until second side is lightly golden.
• Reduce heat to low and pour reserved liquid over the scallops. Simmer 1 minute or until scallops are done, stirring any browned particles into sauce and spooning sauce over scallops.
• To serve, arrange scallops on deep platter and spoon sauce over them. Sprinkle with chives.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH LEMON ORZO

Steps:

• Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Coat pan with cooking spray.
• Add onion to pan; saute 3 minutes.
• Stir in pasta, broth, wine, and thyme; bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and pasta is al dente.
• Stir in chopped chives and lemon juice.
• Keep warm.
• Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle scallops evenly with salt and pepper and add them to the pan; cook 3 minutes on each side until desired degree of doneness.
• Serve with pasta mixture.
• Serving size is 4 1/2 oz. scallops and about 3/4 cup pasta mixture.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH PEPPER AND ONIONS IN ANCHOVY OIL

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and minced anchovies in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring as the oil heats to dissolve the anchovies. Once the anchovies are sizzling, add the sea scallops, and cook without moving the scallops for 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss red bell pepper, orange bell pepper, red onion, garlic, lime zest, and lemon zest in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle pepper mixture onto the scallops and continue cooking until scallops have browned, about 2 minutes more. Turn scallops, stir the pepper mixture, and continue cooking until the scallops have browned on the other side, 4 to 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley sprigs to serve.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS OVER LOBSTER-PROSCIUTTO RISOTTO

Steps:

• For the risotto: Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until just beginning to smoke. Add the onions, garlic and shallots; saute, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent. Add the rice and stir to coat with the oil. Add the white wine, stirring to make sure the rice grains are moving freely and not clumped together. Reduce the heat to medium.
• In a separate saucepan, whisk together the lobster stock, tomato paste and sherry. Add to the lobster stock mixture to the rice, 1/2 cup at a time. Cook, stirring continuously, until all the stock has been added and the rice is al dente. Set the risotto aside and keep warm.
• Split the lobster tail in half, coat the meat with butter, and lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until almost fully cooked. Remove the meat from the shell, cut into bite-size cubes, and add to the risotto to finish cooking. Set the risotto aside.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Deep-fry the julienned prosciutto until crispy, 1 minute. Drain on paper towels. Add 3/4 cup of the fried prosciutto to the risotto; reserve the remainder for garnish.
• For the scallops: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Heat a large saute pan over high heat. While the pan is heating, pat the scallops dry with a heavy, lint-free paper towel and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil to the pan; heat until extremely hot and smoking. Add the scallops and cook until beginning to turn golden brown, about 3 minutes. Flip the scallops, then transfer to the oven for about 4 minutes, or until cooked through.
• To finish: Return the risotto to medium heat. Add the Parmesan and stir to combine.
• For each serving, top one scoop of risotto with 5 sea scallops. Drizzle with citrus butter sauce and scallion oil, and garnish with the reserved crispy prosciutto and some cilantro leaves.
• Combine the lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice and white wine in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until reduced by three-quarters. Remove from the heat add the butter, stirring continuously until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Combine the olive oil, green onions, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a blender or food process. Blend on high speed until smooth.

PAN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH ASIAN DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat heat oil in skillet and add scallops. season with salt and pepper cook about 3-5 minutes should be lightly browned then flip and do the same on other side.
• mean while in sauce pan combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil then remove from heat.
• serve scallops and sauce immediately.

PAN-SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH CIDER SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook bacon in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Using tongs, transfer to paper towels and drain. Crumble bacon. Pour off all but 2 teaspoons bacon drippings from skillet.
• Whisk apple cider and cornstarch in small bowl to blend well. Sprinkle scallops with thyme salt and pepper.
• Heat bacon drippings in skillet over high heat. Add scallops and cook until golden brown and almost cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Add cider mixture to skillet and bring to boil, whisking constantly. Boil until thickened to sauce consistency, whisking occasionally, about 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in lemon juice. Return scallops to skillet and toss until just opaque in center, about 1 minute. Transfer scallops to plates. Sprinkle bacon over.

SPINACH SALAD W/ PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS AND WARM BACON DRESSING

Steps:

• Sprinkle Scallops with salt/pepper/garlic salt and set aside.
• In a large dry non-stick skillet crisp up bacon strips until they reach your desired crispiness. Scoop out bacon crisps onto a flat paper towel. Drain off half the bacon grease into a container or coffee mug. Set aside.
• To remaining bacon grease, add seasoned scallops in single layer to pan. Once you add to the pan, let brown for 4-5 minutes without disturbing them. Flip and repeat browning process for another 4-5 minute
• Remove from pan to reserved paper towel where you put your cooked bacon crisps.
• Add two tbsp of reserved bacon grease to hot pan. Add diced onion. Season with salt/pepper/garlic salt and saute until tender. Add garlic and stir often to avoid burning. Once garlic is soft, add white wine to hot pan and scrap up all the pits on the bottom. Bring to a boil then reduce to low heat and simmer until slightly reduced. Add butter and stir until melted.
• Add the scallops back into the dressing and cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
• Divide fresh spinach onto serving plates, or place in center of one large serving platter. Arrange scallops on bed of spinach. Pour warm dressing over salad and sprinkle with reserved bacon crisps.
• Serve warm and enjoy!

PAN SEARED SALMON AND SCALLOPS WITH MACADAMIA-CILANTRO PESTO

Steps:

• Prepare macadamia-cilantro pesto by placing macadamia nuts, cilantro, green onion, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and macadamia nut oil into the bowl of a blender. Puree until smooth, adding more oil if needed; season to taste with kosher salt.
• Heat two very large skillets over medium-high heat with two tablespoons of oil each until smoking. Season the salmon and scallops to taste with kosher salt. Sear salmon fillets, meat-side down, until golden and crispy, about 5 minutes. Flip over, and cook on the skin-side 5 minutes to desired doneness. Place seared salmon onto serving plates, then sear the scallops until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• To serve, spoon some of the macadamia-cilantro pesto over the salmon, and garnish with two seared scallop pieces.

LEMON ORZO WITH PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Place the stock in a saucepan, and heat to a boil.
• Add the orzo, reduced to heat & simmer until cooked al dente, approximately 7 to 8 minutes,.
• Drain and rinse under cold water.
• In a saucepan, heat the oil and add the cooked orzo and the remaining ingredients.
• Toss to combine, season to tatse.
• Then, heat oil in a another large cast-iron skillet ove medium-high heat.
• Sprinkle scallops evenly with salt and pepper.
• Add scallops to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.
• Season again, as needed; serve immediately with some fresh chopped parsely, if you choose.
• Enjoy!