Bay Scallops with Shallots & Lemon
on Dec 29, 2014, Updated Jul 08, 2022
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With just 9 ingredients, these bay scallops sear in minutes. They are an easy appetizer that turns out elegant and restaurant-worthy. They cook in a combination of olive oil, butter, and shallots and are finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Table of Contents
When I think about what’s in season, fruits and veggies are usually the first things that pop into my mind. But we are in that annual low when all I can do is wish for time to pass.
Right now we are in a lull until spring when not much is growing; however, there are non-produce edibles that are at their peak.That is very true with certain seafood. The ocean is a long way from us in Chicago, so geography can make me feel removed from all the fuss over saltwater delicacies that are at their peak.
What Are Bay Scallops?
From November to March, these scallops, smaller than their seafaring cousins, are at their best. They are caught by hand in shallow cold water on the coast. Their small size is one of the things that make them special.
The major difference between bay scallops and sea scallops is their size. Sea scallops are larger in diameter, and smaller bay scallops have a sweeter flavor.
At the grocery last week I spotted Nantucket Bay scallops on special at the fish counter. My husband is from the East Coast, so he is very familiar with them. Because of that and our travels to Massachusetts to see family, I have gotten hooked on them, too.
Most of the time, seafood prep is best kept simple. That is my number one rule. I like to use ingredients that only enhance the scallops like shallots, lemon, butter and white wine. This combination is light with just the right amount of acidity. There’s no reason to serve scallops drowning in a heavy sauce.
Fish often has a mild flavor. To stay true to it, I like to treat it with an amount of respect and restraint. Why hide what makes it so good?
The Ingredients
This is what you need for this bay scallops recipe:
- Bay scallops: These are smaller than sea scallops.
- Olive oil: The scallops cook in a combination of olive oil and butter.
- Butter: I use unsalted butter and olive oil for the richness and taste.
- Shallots: Minced shallots add onion and garlic flavor.
- White wine: Make sure to use dry white wine. The wine adds acidity to balance out the butter and oil.
- Salt & pepper: The scallops are seasoned with just salt and black pepper.
- Parsley: When the scallops are finished, I sprinkle them with chopped parsley.
- Lemon wedges: Serve the scallops with lemon wedges, so then you can squeeze them with fresh lemon juice.
How To Cook Nantucket Bay Scallops
- Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel.
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium high heat.
- Sauté the shallots for a couple minutes until they turn soft and translucent. You want to give them a good sear.
- Pour in the wine. Let it bubble until it reduces by half. Then add the salt and pepper.
- Place the scallops in the pan and cook 1-2 minutes per side. Make sure not to overcrowd them. They should not be touching. Avoid overcooking the scallops or they will have a chewy, rubbery texture.
- Garnish the scallops with parsley and squeeze in lemon juice.
What To Serve With Scallops
These Nantucket Bay scallops serve 2 to 4 people as an appetizer. If you want to stretch this into more than a starter, I recommend pairing it with some sort of rice dish to turn it into a main dish.
I think an oven-baked risotto is a fantastic option that is very easy and hands-off to make. Or I love serving orzo or farro with them too. Put the scallops on top as the star ingredient in a shallow bowl or on a plate. Don’t stir them into the pasta or grains.
Baked Kale Barley Risotto
Butternut Squash Baked Barley Risotto
Lemon Kale Orzo
Roasted Butternut Squash Broccoli Orzo
Lemon Brussels Sprout Farro
Much like you would add shrimp to salads, you can also do this with tender bay scallops. Add them to a simple Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette or a Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad.
Leftovers
It’s best to eat the scallops warm right after you finish cooking them. If you do end up with leftovers, they can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 1-2 days. Do not try to warm them because they will end up overcooked and rubbery. Put them in a salad and eat them cold.
Recipe Tips
- Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel. Removing that moisture is important for searing.
- Don’t crowd the pan. You want the scallops to sear. When you have too many in the pan cooking at once they will end up steaming instead, and you’ll miss out on them browning. Make sure they are in a single layer, so they all have direct contact with the pan. Cook them in batches if needed.
- Try to flip them over only once when you cook them. Scallops are delicate. If you handle them too much, they might tear.
Seared Bay Scallops
Ingredients
- 3/4 pound bay scallops
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 shallot minced
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 2-4 lemon wedges
Instructions
- Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel.
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once the butter has melted, sauté the shallots until they have softened, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and continue cooking until the liquid has reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the salt and pepper.
- Place the scallops in the skillet making sure not to overcrowd them. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side until browned and opaque.
- Toss the scallops with parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Any suggestions of what to serve them with? Nothing too over-powering…want to still taste the scallops.
I would serve them over a thin pasta like angel hair or capellini. You could toss the pasta in the sauce that is leftover in the skillet.
Nantucket bay scallops are one of my favorite meals, from long-ago trips to Nantucket restaurants as well as finding them in season at our grocery store. Unfortunately they’ve become very expensive. Still, once a year I buy about 2 pounds and divide them up to make 3 meals for my husband and me. Your recipe is the first I’ve found that I really like and still keeps the flavor of the scallops in the forefront. Maybe it’s the shallots but the flavor is lovely. Rather than lemon wedges I usually add a tablespoon or so of organic lemon juice. Great recipe!
All your recipes sound delicious. You were kind. to send me the recipe for sautéed Nantucket Bay Scallops, but in order to attain it, I needed to print 18 pages. Too many. How can I attain just the ingredients and method to sauté? AND thank you so much.
Hi Phyllis. Yikes–18 pages! On the recipe card, right below the image of the recipe there is a ‘PRINT’ button. When you click on that, it should open up a new window with just the recipe. Then you don’t have to print the entire post. I hope that helps!