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.
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?
This is what you need for this bay scallops recipe:
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
Oven-Roasted Halibut with Cherry Tomatoes
Soy Ginger Salmon
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.
You can serve the scallops with risotto, orzo or rice in order to turn it into a main dish.
Keywords: bay scallop recipes, bay scallops
Nantucket bay scallops are one of my favorite meals, from long-ago trips to Nantucket restaurants as well as finding them in season at our grocery store. Unfortunately they’ve become very expensive. Still, once a year I buy about 2 pounds and divide them up to make 3 meals for my husband and me. Your recipe is the first I’ve found that I really like and still keeps the flavor of the scallops in the forefront. Maybe it’s the shallots but the flavor is lovely. Rather than lemon wedges I usually add a tablespoon or so of organic lemon juice. Great recipe!
★★★★★
Any suggestions of what to serve them with? Nothing too over-powering…want to still taste the scallops.
I would serve them over a thin pasta like angel hair or capellini. You could toss the pasta in the sauce that is leftover in the skillet.