Nantucket Bay Scallops

With shallots, white wine and lemon juice, Nantucket bay scallops are a quick and easy appetizer. They cook in minutes to a perfect golden brown.

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 much larger, 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 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

1. Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel.
2. Heat the olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium high heat.
3. Sauté the shallots for a couple minutes until they turn soft and translucent.
4. Pour in the wine. Let it bubble until it reduces by half. Then add the salt and pepper.
5. 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.
6. 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

More Fish Recipes

Oven-Roasted Halibut with Cherry Tomatoes
Soy Ginger Salmon

Nantucket Bay Scallops

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Paige Adams
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 6-7 minutes
• Total Time: 11-12 minutes
• Yield: Serves 2-4 1x
• Category: Appetizers
• Method: Sauté
• Cuisine: American

With shallots, white wine and lemon juice, Nantucket bay scallops are a quick and easy appetizer. They cook in minutes to a perfect golden brown.

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound Nantucket 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

1. Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel.
2. 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.
3. Place the scallops in the skillet making sure not to overcrowd them. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side until browned and opaque.
4. Toss the scallops with parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.

Notes

You can serve the scallops with risotto, orzo or rice in order to turn it into a main dish.

• Author: Paige Adams
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 6-7 minutes
• Total Time: 11-12 minutes
• Yield: Serves 2-4 1x
• Category: Appetizers
• Method: Sauté
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: bay scallop recipes, bay scallops