21 Elegant (but Easy!) Scallop Recipes (2024)

Home Recipes Meal Types Dinner

ByEllie Martin Cliffe

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated: Jul. 23, 2023

Here's your main dish for a special night. These scallop recipes are elegant but so easy, your guests would never guess!

1/21

Skillet Sea Scallops

You’ll want to slip this scallop recipe into the front of your last-minute guests file. Pasta and mixed greens nicely complement the tender, citrusy shellfish. —Margaret E. Lowenberg, Kingman, Arizona

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2/21

Scallops in Sage Cream

I wanted to show off the ocean freshness of the scallops I bought on the dock from a local fisherman, so I used basic ingredients to showcase them. With sage and shallots, this is the best cream sauce for scallops I've found. —Joan Churchill, Dover, New Hampshire

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3/21

Simple Herbed Scallops

Living in Kansas, fresh seafood can be hard to come by. Luckily, frozen scallops aren’t. This dish offers coastal flavor to those of us in the Midwest. —Sarah Befort, Hays, Kansas

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4/21

I created this tempting pasta and scallop recipe for my wife. It’s a terrific meal served with crusty sourdough. If you don’t like spice, skip the red pepper flakes. —George Levinthal, Goleta, California

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5/21

Seared Scallops with Citrus Herb Sauce

Be sure to pat the scallops with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This helps create that perfectly browned and flavorful scallop your better half will love. —April Lane, Greeneville, Tennessee

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Stir-Fried Scallops and Asparagus

Served over quick-cooking ramen noodles, this stir-fry is perfect for busy families on hurried weeknights. Not only do we love the taste, but it comes together in about half an hour. —Barbara Schindler, Napoleon, Ohio

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7/21

Taste of Home

Scallops with Linguine

A buttery garlic sauce zips up a bowlful of linguine, bay scallops and veggies. Celebrate something special or toast the end of another workday with this dish that's perfectly sized for two. —Paula Jones, Brooksville, Florida

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8/21

Taste of Home

Scallops with Wilted Spinach

Two of my favorite foods are bacon and seafood. In this dish, I get them together with white wine, shallots and baby spinach. Serve with bread to soak up the tasty broth. —Deborah Williams, Peoria, Arizona

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9/21

Sea Scallops and Fettuccine

This luscious, lemony pasta and scallop recipe is so easy, it’s become one of our weekly meal mainstays. But it’s also elegant enough to serve to guests. —Donna Thompson, Laramie, Wyoming

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10/21

Taste of Home

Bacon-Wrapped Scallops with Pineapple Quinoa

This is the first recipe I developed using quinoa as an ingredient. My husband thoroughly enjoyed helping me test this recipe. This is a special dish that can be easily prepared in under 30 minutes.—Laura Greenberg, Lake Balboa, California

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11/21

Taste of Home

Lemony Scallops with Angel Hair Pasta

This delicate dish tastes so bright with a touch of lemon and tender sauteed scallops. Serve with crusty whole grain bread, and you have an impressive dinner that comes together in a flash. —Thomas fa*glon, Somerset, New Jersey

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Shrimp ‘n’ Scallops Tropical Salad

A fruity dressing zip drapes this zippy salad from Jackie Pressinger of Stuart, Florida. Served on a bed of greens, the scrumptious combination of grilled seafood, veggies and macadamia nuts is the perfect way to celebrate a special summer occasion.

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13/21

Taste of Home

Pan-Fried Scallops with White Wine Reduction

I learned the art of wine reduction from a cooking class...the flavor is fabulous! Despite the fancy title, pan-fried scallops are easy to prepare. —Katherine Robinson, Glenwood Springs, Colorado

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14/21

Stir-Fried Scallops

Scallops meet mild tomato in this sublime stovetop supper. Try serving the saucy mixture over rice or angel hair pasta, and garnish with cilantro if you like. —Stephany Gocobacki, San Rafael, California

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15/21

Citrus Scallops

My husband and I like to eat seafood at least once a week. Oranges and lemon juice give scallops a refreshing burst of flavor. —Cheri Hawthorne, North Canton, Ohio

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16/21

Seared Scallops with Polenta and Avocado Cream

This seared scallops with polenta is a really impressive dish. It’s beautiful but simple and a wonderful dinner party entree. If you can find them, peppadew peppers add a bit of zing, but if you can’t, roasted red peppers will work just fine. Shrimp can also be substituted for the scallops, if you prefer. —Katie Pelczar, West Hartford, Connecticut

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17/21

Air-Fryer Scallops

I never liked seafood until my husband urged me to try scallops, and now I love it. With the crunchy breading, these air-fryer scallops are the best you’ll ever have. —Martina Preston, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

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18/21

Seafood Cakes with Herb Sauce

I live near the ocean and have a wide variety of seafood available to experiment with in recipes. This one uses salmon and scallops, but shrimp, crab, lobster or any firm whitefish (such as halibut or even cod) would work equally as well. — Elizabeth Truesdell, Petaluma, California

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19/21

White Seafood Lasagna

We make lasagna with shrimp and scallops as part of the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes. Every bite delivers a tasty “jewel” from the sea. —Joe Colamonico, North Charleston, South Carolina

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20/21

Taste of Home

Thai Scallop Saute

Just open a bottle of Thai peanut sauce to give this seafood stir-fry some serious authenticity. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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21/21

Taste of Home

Spicy Seafood Stew

The hardest part of this quick and easy recipe is peeling and dicing the potatoes—and you can even do that the night before. Just place the potatoes in water and store them in the refrigerator overnight to speed up assembly the next day. —Bonnie Marlow, Ottoville, Ohio

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Originally Published: July 19, 2018

Author

Ellie Martin Cliffe

Now Taste of Home's content director, Ellie has been writing about food and lifestyle for almost 20 years. Her writing and editing roles have spanned the print and digital landscape. When Ellie isn't at TOH HQ, she's likely trying gluten- and dairy-free recipes, canning whatever's in season, or playing Forbidden Island with her family.

21 Elegant (but Easy!) Scallop Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak scallops in milk before cooking? ›

Scallops, like many other types of seafood, can have a mild fishy odor that some people find off-putting. Soaking scallops in milk before cooking can help alleviate this odor. Milk can neutralize or mask the fishy smell, resulting in a milder scent.

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What is the best cooking method for scallops? ›

extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat until the oil is very hot and shimmering. Use tongs to gently place the scallops in the pan, leaving plenty of room around each scallop. Cook scallops, undisturbed (repeat: do not move them), until they are deeply golden-brown on the first side, 3–4 minutes.

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What is the best oil for searing scallops? ›

What type of oil should you use to cook scallops? A light, neutral oil with a high smoke point. Extra virgin olive oil will begin to smoke immediately over high heat. Instead, reach for grapeseed oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil.

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How long do you soak scallops in milk for? ›

directions. Soak the scallops in milk for 10 minutes, drain& dry well. Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Put scallops in a baking dish just large enough to hold them in a single layer.

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What happens if you don't rinse scallops before cooking? ›

A: You should always rinse scallops thoroughly to remove grit, but there shouldn't be so much grit that you have to soak them. In fact, soaking isn't recommended because the scallops can absorb water and get soggy, less flavorful and difficult to sear properly.

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Is it better to cook scallops in oil or butter? ›

Although not necessary but preferred, let your scallops rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Don't use olive oil to sear your scallops! I recommend butter as the best option, but you can also use vegetable, canola, or grapeseed oil.

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Are scallops better grilled or sauteed? ›

Pan seared scallops are largely heralded as the best way to cook scallops. This method of cooking scallops features a skillet with some butter or oil over medium high heat. The scallops get seasoned with some salt and pepper before placing them on the skillet.

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Should scallops be seasoned before cooking? ›

Dry Your Scallops: We mentioned this before, but it bears repeating—be sure to dry your scallops before placing them on the pan. Season Them Before You Cook Them: You should sprinkle your salt and pepper onto your scallops before cooking, not during or after.

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How to cook scallops Martha Stewart? ›

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.

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Do scallops need to be room temperature before cooking? ›

Remove and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Heat a heavy 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. To check if the pan is hot enough, add a large drop of water (⅛ teaspoon) to the skillet. When you can roll it around the pan, it's ready.

Should I flour scallops before searing? ›

Some cooks will toss their scallops in a light dusting of flour or cornstarch before cooking. This is simply to add a little bit more crustiness to the exterior. It is not a necessary step, but some prefer to do this. You could try a few scallops dredged in a light coating and leave a few alone to see which you prefer.

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How to cook scallops like a pro? ›

You'll want to coat a pan in olive oil and have the heat fairly high. Once you add the scallops, they'll form a golden crust in about 2-3 minutes. Once you've got the crust on one side, just flip and cook the other side until that has a crust as well. Voila!

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Why do chefs cut scallops in half? ›

If you have large scallops, slice them in half so that you can monitor whether they are cooked properly on the inside or not. Keep an eye on the edges while cooking. Once they start to become brown, wait for another 20 seconds before lifting them to see if a crust is formed.

Are you supposed to soak scallops in milk? ›

Soaking scallops in milk

According to Livestrong.com, the milk will neutralize any fishy notes and aromas while also making the flesh more tender. Not only is this milk-soaking technique effective for scallops, but it also works for a range of seafood and fish.

Do you rinse fish off after soaking in milk? ›

Well if you put the seafood in a bowl and add cold milk, cover it and let it sit in the fridge for about a half hour the smell goes away. Then just rinse it off, pat it dry and cook as you normally would. I have used this trick on haddock, cod, swordfish and shrimp.

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What does soaking seafood in milk do? ›

Before cooking, soak the fish in milk for 20 minutes

In this scenario, the protein in the milk binds with the compounds that cause that fishy odor, in essence extracting if from the fish.

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Do you soak frozen scallops in milk? ›

Frozen scallops should be thawed in the refrigerator. Do not thaw them at room temperature and be sure to rinse them before cooking. Why do you soak them in milk? Milk will help tenderize these and get rid of their fishy taste and odor.

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