Easy Fried Scallops Recipes

SIMPLY SEARED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Pat sea scallops dry with paper towels. Season with some lemon juice, salt, and pepper on one side.
• Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over high heat. Place scallops in the skillet seasoned-side down. Cook until browned on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Season with remaining lemon juice, salt, and pepper; flip. Continue cooking until opaque, about 2 minutes more. Garnish with lemon zest.

FRIED SCALLOPS FOR FOUR

Steps:

• Use whole small (bay) scallops or sliced large (sea) scallops.
• Rinse and pat scallops dry.
• Roll in flour mixed with the Old Bay seasoning. Shake off excess.
• Sauté in a butter-oil mix.
• Bay scallops will be done in two minutes, sea scallops (if left whole) take longer.
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

DEEP-FRIED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Gather ingredients.
• If scallops are quite large, cut them so the sizes are fairly uniform.
• Rinse the scallops under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Remove the tough white side muscle if not already removed.
• Heat about 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil in a deep, heavy cast-iron skillet, saucepan, or deep fryer to 350 F.
• Line a baking pan or baking sheet with 2 or 3 thicknesses of paper towels and set aside.
• In a bowl, combine flour, salt, paprika, and black pepper.
• In another bowl, whisk eggs with the milk.
• Put the fine breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
• Dip a few of the scallops in the seasoned flour mixture, then in the egg mixture, and then roll them in the breadcrumbs to coat. Repeat with the remaining scallops.
• Once the oil has reached the temperature (350 F), add several scallops―about 6 to 10 depending on the pan size―to the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Take care not to overcook. They should be warm in the middle, but still moist.
• Remove them from the oil with a metal slotted spoon and transfer them to the paper-towel-lined pan. Shake the pan gently for a few seconds so the scallops roll around and excess oil is absorbed.
• Repeat with subsequent batches.
• Serve immediately with your choice of cocktail sauce , rémoulade sauce , or tartar sauce. Enjoy.

BREADED AND FRIED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Mix bread crumbs, salt, and pepper in a resealable plastic bag.
• Whisk egg lightly in a bowl. Dip scallops in egg; place in the bread crumb mixture in the bag. Seal bag and shake until scallops are coated with bread crumbs.
• Bring butter, olive oil, and lemon juice to a simmer in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add breaded scallops; cook, shaking skillet occasionally, until browned, 6 to 7 minutes.

QUICK PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallot; cook and stir until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in lemon juice and cook until evaporated, scraping the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon to release any browned bits, about 3 minutes.
• Place scallops 1/2 inch apart in the skillet. Cook until browned on the bottom, about 1 minute. Flip and continue cooking until the second side is deeply browned, about 1 minute more.
• Transfer scallops to a serving plate; season with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley.