Mediterranean Pan Seared Scallops Recipes

PAN SEARED SCALLOPS RECIPE WITH GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mash together the butter, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, and parsley. (The lemon juice may not fully incorporate, which is fine.) Set aside.
• Pat the scallops dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat olive oil in a medium cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, until shimmering. Keep the garlic herb butter nearby.
• Add the scallops in a single layer, without touching. Sear, without moving, for 2-3 minutes, until a crust forms on the bottom.
• Flip the scallops and immediately add the garlic herb butter to the pan around the scallops in pieces. Sear the scallops for 2-3 more minutes, basting them with the butter occasionally, until a crust forms on the other side and scallops are cooked through.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH LEMON BUTTER

Steps:

• Remove the tiny, tough side muscle where sand can hide and rinse the scallops if necessary (some scallops are sold with the muscle already removed). Dry the scallops very well with a paper towel, as moisture can impede browning.
• Heat a large cast iron pan or thick-bottom nonstick sauté pan over medium-high heat until very hot. (Heat two pans if necessary to keep scallops from crowding.) Add the olive oil and ½ tablespoon of the butter, and swirl to coat the pan. Place the scallops in the pan and season with ⅛ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Sear on the first side, without touching or flipping, for about 3 minutes, or until golden. Using tongs, turn the scallops over, season with the remaining ⅛ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper, and sear for another 1 to 2 minutes, until the scallops are just cooked through.
• Move the scallops to a plate. Remove the pan from the heat and add the remaining 3½ tablespoons butter to the skillet. As the butter is melting, add the lemon juice and swirl the pan a few times, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon.
• Add the scallops back in the skillet, baste with the sauce to warm, and then divide onto 4 plates, using all the sauce. Garnish with lemon wedges, if desired.
• Note: When purchasing scallops, look for the "dry" or "dry-packed" variety. Some scallops on the market are dipped in a solution to extend shelf life. The scallops end up absorbing the water in the solution, increasing the price and causing the scallops to leak moisture when cooked (which will keep them from developing a beautifully caramelized exterior). Quality seafood markets typically carry dry scallops but don't usually label them; if you're uncertain of what to buy, ask your fishmonger.
• Variation: For even more flavor, you can brown the butter to make a brown butter lemon sauce. Before cooking the scallops, start the sauce by adding 3½ tablespoons of the butter to a small, thick-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil, and then simmer on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. You will notice foaming and then milk particles will begin to drop to the bottom. When the butter turns golden and starts to smell nutty, it's done. Set aside for a minute or two. Strain through the finest strainer you have to remove the brown bits. (It's called "brown butter," but a key to browning butter is to remove when it is golden, before it paradoxically turns brown and burns.) Set the strained butter aside and proceed with the recipe, adding the browned butter to the pan after cooking the scallops.

MEDITERRANEAN PAN SEARED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• 1. Lightly rinse the scallops under cold running water and then removed to papertowels and pat dry. Set aside. On a plate of choice, add the flour, the old bay seasoning, the salt and pepper. Stir till all flavors have been mixed thru the flour and set aside.
• 2. Meanwhile, in a large non-stick skillet, melt the 2 tbls of butter and 2 tbls of olive oil. Start dredging the scallops thru the flour mixture and place on a separate plate. When the oil/butter mixture has melted and the oils are hot add the scallops. Let very lightly brown, and flip. Once the other side has very lightly browned, remove from heat and add to a plate and set aside.
• 3. Add the other 2 tbls of olive oil to the skillet. (the eggplant works like a sponge and basically absorbs all moisture from the pan, you need to add more) Bring to medium heat and then add the diced zucchini and eggplant.
• 4. Once the zucchini and eggplant has started to soften, add the crushed garlic. Stir.
• 5. Add the diced tomatoes and let simmer for a few minutes. Add the capers, the white wine and the lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and reduce sauce, about 10-12 minutes.
• 6. Add the diced fresh parsley.
• 7. Now add the set aside scallops and reduce heat to very low. Cover and let simmer 5-6 minutes till scallops have heated thru. Take care not to overcook scallops, as they will become very chewy! Don't be scared, it's honestly not rocket science... :-) Just a love of cooking!! And in my case eating!! Serve over carb of choice.
• 8. *I love this dish w/ pan seared potatoes*, however, we had leftover pasta from the other nite, so I brought the pasta back to life by adding 1/2c of water over very low heat... it was delicous!!
• 9. Enjoy!!

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Core and remove the seeds of the red pepper and cut into julienne strips about an inch long.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over high heat. Add the garlic and cook briefly; do not brown. Add the red pepper, tomatoes, olives, capers, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes. Then, remove from heat and keep warm.
• In a large nonstick skillet melt the butter over high heat. When the butter is bubbling, add the scallops. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the scallops. Sprinkle the lemon juice and basil over them and cook and stir briefly.
• Spoon a portion of the tomato mixture onto each of 4 warmed serving plates. Distribute the scallops evenly over the mixture. Serve immediately.