Healthy Garlic Scallops Recipe
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Best garlic scallops recipe, seared to perfection in a cast iron skillet and cooked in a healthy clarified butter for the ultimate seafood meal!
To sear the scallops you will need organic Ghee like This + cast iron skillet (<–amazon)
A quick post today on how to make easy, good for you, Italian garlic scallops that are perfectly seared yet succulent, garlicky and saucy! You can serve them as an appetizer, starter, or dinner for two with angel hair pasta or over a creamy risotto!
The Best Garlic Scallops Recipe of Your Life!
Initially I planned to make some shrimp, but could not find any wild caught ones at the market, so I grabbed some large wild sea scallops instead.
Lucky me, I also had all that clarified butter /Ghee from the other day, so really, everything finally aligned to make this happen.
Healthy scallops, you don’t even have to worry about eating too much!
The liquid gold butter ghee, is what makes the most delicious sauce for those scallops to swim in. ( If you don’t want to bother making it, you can just order some Here from Amazon.
Then you can mop it up with some crusty bread or serve them with rice, asparagus, steamed vegetables, frutti di mare or angel hair pasta aglio e olio + lots of lemon. Garlic spinach and pea puree also make lovely pairings.
So dust off that old cast iron skillet, it’s the only way to get perfectly seared scallops without overcooking them, and ending up with a rubbery mess.
TIP: make sure your scallops are completely patted dry well on paper towels!
You can’t work with watery scallops!
Simply coated in a little bit of olive oil, seasoned well and quickly seared in a hot skillet for no more than 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Easy, simple, perfect, deliciousness!
Then you add your clarified butter, lots of garlic and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to brighten it all up.
FAQ: Are Sea Scallops Healthy ?
They are a low fat, low calorie, lean protein source, rich in vitamin B-12, essential minerals and Omega-3 fatty acids; but honestly if you look at scientific research they are far from healthy and should be avoided.
UPDATE: since first posting this garlic scallops recipe I’ve become aware of the overwhelming scientific nutritional research and evidence and can no longer support anything but a Plant-Based diet, for the human health, animal welfare and our Planet. We can still enjoy some Vegan Scallops made from king oyster mushrooms and cooked in plant based butter, check out the recipe here.
Healthy Garlic Scallops Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb large scallops
- 1/4 c clarified butter ghee
- 5 cloves garlic grated
- 1 large lemon zested
- 1/4 c Italian parsley roughly chopped
- 1/2 tsp sea salt + more to taste
- 1/4 tsp peppercorn medley freshly ground
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- A pinch of sweet paprika
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Make sure to pat dry the scallops on paper towels very well before cooking.
- Heat up a large cast iron skillet on medium flame.
- Meanwhile in a medium bowl toss the scallops with a drizzle of olive oil or butter ghee, just enough to coat it all over. Sprinkle them with the sea salt, cracked pepper, red pepper flakes and sweet paprika. Toss to coat gently.
- Add a little drizzle of butter ghee to the hot skillet, just enough to coat the bottom. Add the scallops making sure not to overcrowd the pan, and sear for about 2 minutes on each side until nicely golden. ( Use a small spatula to flip them over individually )
- Add the butter ghee to the skillet with the scallops and then add the garlic. Remove from heat and using a spatula push the garlic around to infuse the sauce for about 30 seconds. The heat from the skillet will be enough for the garlic to work its magic into the butter. This is how you avoid that pungent burnt garlicky taste we don’t like.
- We are just looking to extract all that sweetness from the garlic, and this is how you do it, without burning.
- Squeeze half of the lemon all over the scallops and move the skillet around a little so it combines with the butter. Sprinkle with the minced parsley, lemon zest and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Serve with crusty bread or al dente capellini noodles.
Notes
Nutrition
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I just ate breakfast and this recipe is still making me hungry! I want a piece of garlic bread to sop up that sauce too!
That’s great, don’t you love that feeling ?teeheehee
Florentina, these look outstanding! Perfect and Pinned!
OMG. These look INCREDIBLE! Look how juicy and sparkly and glossy they are! You totally nailed it!! And actually, this is very similar to how I make MINE! great minds think alike 😉 Pinning!
Exactly !! And really I am so happy to get a compliment like this from the queen of food photography ! Honored!
Florentina, these scallops look OMG amazing, all that sauce, and the garlic flavor, and they are so perfectly browned, loving them and drooling at my screen!
Why thank you ! Mission accomplished ha!
I can’t wait to try these gorgeous scallops! Stumbling NOW!
Thanks a bunch ! You rock!
mouthwatering! and GOURMET healthy!
Yes that’s what i was after, to make them healthy without sacrificing the flavor. Clarified butter is my friend !
This looks so good!
I think I’m in love with this!! I love scallops but I’m the only one in the family who does love it! Maybe I can change their minds with this! 🙂
Yes you can !! I believe in you Dini 😉
This sauce looks AMAZING!!! I love scallops and these look perfect!
Ohhhhh wow, we LOVE scallops (although getting good quality ones in Ohio can be a bit tough)… and these look fabulous!! Yay, no naughty corner for me, I have 5 cast iron skillets to choose from lol 🙂
My kind of girl! Cast Iron Forever ! xo’s
I have a whole collection of cast iron that I use everyday. I love them.
How do you make the ghee?
Hi Bobbi, here’s a tutorial on how to make your own ghee at home. So easy 🙂 http://ciaoflorentina.com/how-to-clarify-butter-ghee/
Boy, this looks so good …. I have never tried a scallop before, now may be the perfect time .
Oh no, you try scallops or the naughty corner is yours. Your choice 😉
Looks delicious and beautiful photos!! Yum!
They looks so good! I’m going to surprise my husband with them 🙂
It looks incredible!!! Now I have to try this!! Amazing pics! 🙂
Thank you Santiago! I will give your compliments to my Iphone 🙂
They look glorious!
This looks delicious. I will give it a try. Beautiful photos
my mouth is literally watering at the sight of these sexy scallops. Divine. ps – Yummed this.
10 minutes girl, and you got these on the table! Pronto !
Your recipe has inspired me to try cooking scallops. Such a simple recipe but looks like a taste sensation. Can’t wait to give them try!
Oh Ange, so glad to hear, and i want a report back 😉 Simple is my middle name!
This looks so delicious. I am a fish person and I am definitely going to love this.
Oh yum these look so tasty and easy to make!
These look gorgeous! I’ve been thinking of scallops for a few days! Definitely giving this recipe a try!
Thank you Mira, i hope you try them, such an easy weeknight dinner recipe!