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Seared Scallops Recipe with Orange Rum Sauce

Quick and easy seared scallops recipe with a silky orange rum and butter sauce. 

Seared Scallops Recipe with Orange Rum Sauce

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Tuesdays are for easy dinners like this pan seared scallops recipe I whipped up for us today!

Perfectly seared in my cast iron skillet, these wild scallops are swimming in the silkiest orange rum sauce, made right in the same pan.

I came across some gorgeous wild scallops at the market and I just couldn’t resist grabbing some. They aren’t only delicious and nutritious, but also incredibly fast to cook. And fast is great!

Seared Scallops Recipe with Orange Rum Sauce

You will need a cast iron skillet to execute the perfect searing! No way around it you guys!

Seared Scallops Recipe with Orange Rum Sauce

How to sear scallops without ruining them:

  1. Make sure to dry the scallops very well on paper towels and remove as much moisture from them as possible. This is crucial in getting that golden brown sear without overcooking them. Nobody wants chewy, rubbery scallops, right? yikes! 
  2. Season well with sea salt, black pepper and red chili flakes. Also, don’t forget to add a dash of chili powder not just for flavor, but also to help with that gorgeous golden seared color. 
  3. Sear quickly on a hot surface. Make sure that pan is hot and ready to sizzle the moment your scallops touch it. It shouldn’t take more than about 30 to 45 seconds per side for large scallops. 
  4. Last but not least: make an exquisite sauce by deglazing the pan with a splash of rum and freshly squeezed orange juice. 

Seared Scallops Recipe with Orange Rum Sauce

 

Seared Scallops Recipe with Orange Rum Sauce
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Seared Scallops Recipe with Orange Rum Sauce

Quick and easy seared scallops recipe with a silky orange rum and butter sauce.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2
Author Florentina

Ingredients

  • 1 lb wild scallops
  • 3 cloves garlic peeled and gently smashed
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1.5 tbsp salted butter
  • 1 large orange juiced
  • 2 shots of rum
  • zest from 1/2 orange
  • 1/4 c flat leaf parsley roughly chopped
  • 3/4 tsp sea salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tsp chile powder
  • freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 1 small orange sliced

Instructions

  • Pat the scallops dry on paper towels.
  • Drizzle the scallops with a little olive oil and sprinkle them all over with sea salt, chili powder, red pepper flakes and freshly cracked black pepper. Toss to coat well.
  • Preheat a cast iron skillet on medium flame until hot. Add a lug of olive oil, just enough to coat the bottom and sear the garlic cloves until golden on both sides, making sure not to burn them. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  • Using a pair of tongues add the scallops to the hot skillet without touching each other and sear for about 45 seconds on each side until nicely golden. Do not over cook them or they will become rubbery.
  • Transfer the scallops to a plate and keep warm.
  • Take a step back and pour the rum into the pan. Use a silicone spatula to scrape all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan and pour in the orange juice. Bring to a simmer and allow the sauce to reduce by half, about a minute or so. Remove from flame and stir in the cold butter until melted.
  • Taste the orange sauce and adjust seasonings with more sea salt. Add the roasted garlic cloves to the sauce if desired.
  • Transfer the scallops back into the orange rum sauce and squeeze the lemon all over the top.
  • Sprinkle with the parsley, some orange zest and serve over a bed of polenta or butternut squash puree garnished with the orange slices.

Seared Scallops Recipe with Orange Rum Sauce

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Filed Under: Appetizers, Dinners, Gluten Free Tagged With: Easy Seafood Recipes, Healthy Seafood Recipes, Scallop Recipes, Scallops, Scallops Recipe, Seafood Dishes, Seafood Recipes

About Florentina

Hi, I'm Florentina, the voice behind the wholesome recipes you find in this journal. But I'm not alone, I'm really just channeling the Man in the Photo, one recipe at a time! Thank you for joining me in my quest for the art of simple, rustic living, trying to capture the raw beauty of organic food & life through the lens of my Iphone and camera.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather @Bostongirlbakes

    September 21, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    5 stars
    These look delicious! And thank you for the tips on searing I never get it quite right…I need to try them in my cast iron now! 🙂

    Reply
    • Florentina

      September 21, 2016 at 2:45 pm

      Cast iron is the secret to perfectly seared scallops, I can’t live without mine!

      Reply
      • Sandy

        December 1, 2020 at 8:43 pm

        5 stars
        These were so good. I doubled the sauce ingredients to serve as an entree over
        linguine. Yes, you must use a cast iron skillet for scallops or they don’t sear properly and make sure they are really dry first. We are lucky to get fresh dry jumbo scallops where I live and this was my favorite preparation so far. The orange and rum along with the seared garlic is wonderful!

        Reply
    • Alan

      September 27, 2016 at 4:40 pm

      5 stars
      did the scallops ,wow!

      Reply
      • Florentina

        September 27, 2016 at 6:05 pm

        So happy to hear, not bad for 15 minutes in the kitchen huh ? 😉

        Reply
  2. Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine

    September 21, 2016 at 6:25 pm

    5 stars
    These look amazing Florentina! I love scallops, but have never cooked them at home!

    Reply
  3. Platter Talk

    September 21, 2016 at 7:32 pm

    5 stars
    Scallops are some of my favorite things on the table. Your pictures and sear are amazing!

    Reply
  4. sue | theviewfromgreatisland

    September 22, 2016 at 7:56 am

    These are mouthwatering — why doesn’t my supermarket ever carry scallops? I need to hunt some down, this is amazing…

    Reply
    • Florentina

      September 22, 2016 at 11:35 am

      Oh bummer, I always find wild ones at Sprouts, and Whole Foods of course. Hope you try them soon 🙂

      Reply
  5. Elizabeth

    September 23, 2016 at 12:32 am

    5 stars
    Those scallops! Swoon! We’re lucky to have some of the world’s finest scallops on our doorstep (I’ve even tried them raw as they were being landed!). Gorgeous recipe, this!

    Reply
    • Florentina

      September 23, 2016 at 4:42 pm

      Wow, lucky you! I’m so jelly! I just get them at the market when in season.

      Reply
  6. Igor @ Cooking The Globe

    September 23, 2016 at 1:19 am

    5 stars
    I love scallops. Or should I say I can’t live without them. I have never tried making them with rum though. Thanks for the awesome idea!

    Reply
    • Florentina

      September 23, 2016 at 4:41 pm

      You gotta do the orange rum sauce, I just bought some more scallops today, we are on a roll haha

      Reply
  7. SilverLily

    December 13, 2016 at 12:47 am

    I don’t like scallops, but the sauce sounded good, so I did an adaptation:

    Spicy Orange Rum Sauce
    Author: Ciao, Florentina Adapted by me

    A silky orange rum and butter sauce. Exchange Orange for lemon, lime, or other citrus fruit as desired. Instead of red pepper flakes/chili powder, use 1-2 small peppers of your choice, grilled to remove skin. Keep or discard seeds as you wish.

    Ingredients:

    3 cloves garlic peeled and gently smashed
    2 tsp olive oil
    1.5 tbsp salted butter
    1 large orange juiced
    2 shots of rum
    zest from 1/2 orange
    1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
    1/2 tsp chile powder
    freshly cracked black pepper to taste

    Instructions:

    Drizzle the garlic with a little olive oil and sprinkle them with sea salt, chili powder, red pepper flakes and freshly cracked black pepper. Toss to coat well.

    Preheat a cast iron skillet on medium flame until hot.

    Add a lug of olive oil, just enough to coat the bottom and sear the garlic cloves until golden on both sides, making sure not to burn them.

    Remove from the pan and set aside.

    Take a step back and pour the rum into the pan.

    Use a spatula to scrape all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan and pour in the orange juice.

    Bring to a simmer and allow the sauce to reduce by half, about a minute or so.
    Remove from flame and stir in the cold butter until melted.

    Taste the orange sauce and adjust seasonings with more sea salt.

    Add the roasted garlic cloves to the sauce if desired, or strain through a metal mesh strainer to make a smoother sauce. Unstrained sauce will become more flavorful over time, if not used right away.

    Use immediately, or refridgerate until use. Keeps…?

    Reply
    • Florentina

      December 15, 2016 at 1:52 pm

      Sounds delicious to me Lily! Happy you enjoyed it 🙂 ~Florentina

      Reply
  8. Liza

    August 10, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    This looks wonderful. Being from Nova Scotia we eat scallops often. I’m so pleased to find a new recipe. I always season all seafood with chili. It’s a great balance to the sweetness. The tips on drying and a cast iron pan are spot on Florentina.

    Reply
    • Florentina

      August 11, 2017 at 11:10 am

      Yes, a little kick from chili flakes is always a pleasant addition. Cast iron for life Liza 🙂

      Reply
  9. Christine Harris

    August 26, 2018 at 6:41 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for dinner tonight and it was awesome! The bonus is, so fast and easy! The aroma lingering in my kitchen right now is heavenly

    Reply
  10. Kimberly Jenkins

    July 12, 2019 at 5:34 pm

    5 stars
    These were by far the best scallop recipe I have ever made or tasted!!! My husband was so pleased and I will surly make again and again!!! Thank you for such an amazing recipe. I will never over cook another scallop thanks to you ! I would give 10⭐️ If I could!

    Reply
  11. Sabrina

    April 3, 2022 at 1:21 pm

    5 stars
    My family loves scallops so I’m always looking for new simple delicious recipes and this one did not disappoint! It really was so easy to make and full of fresh flavours. Thanks for this, its a keeper!

    Reply

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Ciao Florentina Channeling the Man in the Photo, one recipe at a time, mostly Italian and Vegetarian lifestyle! Please join my quest for the art of simple, rustic living, trying to capture the raw beauty of food & life through the lens of my Iphone - Florentina L.

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