Seared Scallops with Chimichurri Dressing Recipe - Cookin Canuck (2024)

FAQs

How are scallops best prepared? ›

Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Sear scallops. Add scallops to a hot stainless steel skillet of melted butter or olive oil. Let it cook until a golden crust forms, then flip, and cook on the other side.

The bright orange roe is firmer and lighter than the rest of the scallop with a more pronounced seafood flavor. The roe cooks at the same rate as the rest of the scallop, so you can leave it attached and sear them together, as we have here.

For a simple but classic presentation, sear scallops in butter. Serve over pasta with olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. You can also serve them on a pillow of pureed cauliflower or root vegetables. The creamy side is a wonderful partner to the chewy but buttery scallop.

Damp scallops don't sear or brown in the pan.

The drier they are, the better they will sear. Frozen scallops will have more moisture, so take extra care when patting them dry. For an extra fail-safe, I add a light dusting of flour to each side of the scallops.

Give your scallops a quick rinse to remove any grit, then thoroughly pat dry with a few paper towels, as excess moisture will inhibit searing. For added insurance, you can dry your scallops in the fridge for an hour or two before cooking.

The roe and other organs are discarded at sea when they are shucked by the crew. The entire scallop is edible, but in the US, it is advised to only eat the meat as other parts of the scallop may retain naturally occurring toxins that can lead to PSP or paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Scallops can be expensive and don't reheat well, so budget for the exact amount you need. We generally count 3–4 large scallops per person. Like shrimp, scallops vary in size; many stores will provide a count per pound, which you can use to estimate how many scallops you'll need.

But the remaining edible part of the scallop – a tongue-shaped sac of orange roe (egg) and/or white milt (sperm) that wraps around the abductor – may hold on to the toxins, making the roe and milt unsafe to eat. Domoic acid and saxitoxin are the two main toxins.

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.

Scallops have a mild, sweet flavor with a buttery, tender, soft texture. Are scallops healthy? Scallops are low-fat and high in protein with lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. While I recommend cooking them in butter for the best sear, you can cook them in vegetable, canola or grapeseed oil if preferred.

What is the best cooking method for scallops? ›

Because sea scallops have a chewier texture, searing them in a hot skillet is the simplest, most effective cooking method to achieving a crisp exterior and tender, just-firm texture within. Basting the scallops with butter helps finish cooking them and enhances browning, too.

Scallop Roe

The roe of the scallop, as it is commonly referred to as, is actually the reproductive organ of the scallop. When shucked, it is the coral (or off-white) coloured stuff that you see attached to the muscle itself.

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.

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.

Because sea scallops have a chewier texture, searing them in a hot skillet is the simplest, most effective cooking method to achieving a crisp exterior and tender, just-firm texture within. Basting the scallops with butter helps finish cooking them and enhances browning, too.

Pull temps for scallops

The second side of the scallops will continue to sear, but you should focus on getting the right internal temperature that will be tender, not rubbery to the bite. The critical pull temperature you're going for in when searing scallops is 115°F (46°C).