Best Scallop Pesto Pasta Recipes

SCALLOPS WITH PESTO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Season scallops with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and add scallops. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Add pesto and capers; mix well. Stir in heavy cream and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and serve.

PAN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH LINGUINE AL PESTO

Steps:

• To toast the pine nuts get a pan sauté pan very hot, then turn off the heat, and add the pine nuts to the pan. Keep the pine nuts moving around so they toast without burning.*If the pine nuts start to smoke take the pan off the heat.
• Remove the leaves from the basil and parsley, do not use the stems
• Place the basil and parsley into the food processor, Pulse it until the greens are very well minced
• Add the garlic, toasted pine nuts, and grated Romano Cheese, pulse to combine
• Drizzle in the Olive Oil until it has a nice smooth consistency without looking oily
• cook linguine per instructions on the box
• wash and clean your scallops (remove the little piece of side mussel)
• pat dry the scallops with paper towels
• sprinkle the old bay on both sides of the scallops
• get your pan very hot
• add enough olive oil to have a light coating in the pan
• add the scallops carefully, not over crowding the pan (too many scallops will bring down the temperature of the pan)
• most importantly once you place the scallops in the pan, do not move them!
• allow the scallop to sear on one side for two minutes, when you turn one scallop you should begin to see a nice caramel color as a light crust forms. If your scallop looks like this continue turning them, if not let them cook a little longer.
• after turning the scallop continue cooking, being careful not to over cook them.
• a scallop will be just a little translucent in the center when it is done (the scallop will continue to cook after you've removed it from the pan)
• look at the scallop from the side to determine if it is done.
• the scallop should be a little springy when you push it with your fingers, if it is firm, its overcooked**
• this is a matter of timing, while the scallops are searing, the pasta should just be getting done; you want to toss the linguine with a few large spoonfuls of the pesto (use as much or as little as you like), as soon as you drain it.
• place the linguine with the pesto back in the pot, and hold on the back of the stove(off burner) until your scallops are done.
• plate pasta and top with scallops, serve immediately!

SAVORY SEA SCALLOPS AND ANGEL HAIR PASTA

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the angel hair pasta, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and cook just until fragrant and softened, about 1 minute. Slice any scallops over 3/4-inch thick in half so they'll cook evenly; stir scallops, basil, and parsley into the skillet. Cook and gently stir just until scallops feel slightly firm when pressed with a finger, 2 to 3 minutes. Scallops will become tough and chewy if overcooked. Stir in lemon juice, and season with salt and black pepper. Pour in cream if you like a thicker sauce. Bring the mixture just to a bare simmer.
• Serve over hot angel hair pasta; sprinkle to taste with Parmesan cheese.

SHRIMP AND SCALLOPS WITH PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Cook spaghetti according to directions, drain.
• Stir in pesto and 2 tbsp olive oil.
• Meawhile in a large skillet, saute the garlic in 2 tbsp olive oil.
• Add Asparagus and cook until crisp-tender.
• Add the scallops and pepper flakes, cook until opaque.
• Add the shrimp and cook until pink.
• Toss the pesto pasta with the shrimp and scallop mixture.
• Sprinkle with some fresh grated parmesan and serve immediately.

BAY SCALLOPS WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Combine the basil, parsley, walnuts, and cheese in a food processor or mortar. Pulse or grind gradually adding the 3 cups olive oil until the mixture forms a paste.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the linguine and cook until it is al dente, about 8 minutes; drain and reserve.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the scallops, mushrooms, and zucchini and cook until the vegetables are tender and the scallops are opaque, about 2 minutes. Add a couple of tablespoons of pesto and the linguine. Toss to coat the pasta with sauce. Spoon onto warm plates and serve. Store pesto covered in the refrigerator.

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.

THREE-GREEN PASTA WITH SCALLOPS AND PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add asparagus and green beans and cook until just crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer vegetables to bowl, using strainer. Add fettuccine to water and boil until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring pasta occasionally.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus, green beans and peas. Season with salt and pepper; stir until heated through and coated with butter, about 1 minute. Return vegetables to bowl. Melt remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in same skillet. Add quartered sea scallops, season with salt and pepper and sauté until just cooked through, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
• Drain pasta and return to skillet. Add vegetables, scallops, pesto, cream and lemon juice and stir over low heat until pasta is coated with sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

SEAFOOD PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• For pesto, place 1/4 cup oil, basil, oregano, parsley and one garlic clove in a blender or food processor. Cover and process until smooth; set aside. Mince the remaining garlic. Cook pasta according to package directions., Meanwhile, in a nonstick skillet, saute onions and minced garlic in butter and remaining oil until tender. Add the shrimp, wine or broth, lemon juice and cayenne; saute for 2 minutes. Add scallops; saute for 2 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and scallops are firm and opaque. Drain pasta; toss with pesto and Parmesan. Top with seafood mixture.

CREAMY BAY SCALLOP SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes or 1 minute less than directed on the package.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. When oil just starts to smoke, add scallops and move them into a single layer. Let sear on high for 60 seconds. Toss to turn. Add butter and stir scallops until butter melts. Stir in garlic. Add lemon zest and red pepper flakes. Stir in sherry and cook and stir until alcohol cooks off, about 1 minute. Pour in cream. When mixture begins to simmer, reduce heat to medium-low. Add salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
• Drain pasta. Transfer to skillet with scallops; bring to a simmer. Add half the parsley. Cook until pasta is heated through and tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Grate generously with grated cheese. Add the rest of the parsley. Serve in warm bowls.