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Recipe by:

Sara Crocker

Elegant Lemon Butter Scallops

Seared scallops in a luscious lemon butter sauce come together in minutes for a festive, elegant dish.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Seafood
Calories: 300
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Group: Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound fresh sea scallops
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large lemon (juice and zest)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Equipment

  • Skillet 10-inch cast-iron skillet preferred

Method
 

  1. Take scallops out of the fridge 15 minutes before cooking. Pat them dry and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear scallops for 2-3 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  3. Add butter to the skillet, melt it, then sauté garlic for 30 seconds. Stir in lemon juice and zest.
  4. Return scallops to the skillet and toss in the sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley.
  5. Serve hot, ideally with garlic mashed potatoes or a crisp salad.

Notes

Scallops are best served immediately after cooking for optimal texture and flavor.