Description
Do you often shy away from cooking shellfish at home? This recipe changes the narrative completely. Forget the stress of perfect searing; the oven does all the heavy lifting here. Imagine tender, sweet sea scallops topped with a golden, crispy Parmesan-panko crust, swimming in a pool of savory garlic butter. It is elegant enough for a romantic date night but simple enough for a busy weeknight dinner, coming together in less than 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb Sea Scallops; cleaned, side muscle removed, and patted dry
- 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter, melted
- 3 cloves Garlic, freshly minced
- 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs (Panko recommended)
- 0.25 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
- To taste Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Parsley, chopped
- Lemon Wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a small baking dish or cast-iron skillet with butter or olive oil.
- Dry the Scallops: Pat the scallops dry thoroughly with paper towels. Remove the small, tough rectangular side muscle (“foot”) if present.
- Arrange and Season: Place scallops in the baking dish in a single layer, ensuring they do not touch. Season the tops generous with salt and pepper.
- Create Topping: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- Top the Scallops: Spoon a generous amount of the garlic butter mixture onto each scallop. Press gently with the back of the spoon to adhere.
- Bake: Bake for 12–15 minutes. The scallops should turn opaque and firm, and the topping should be golden brown.
- Serve: Remove from oven immediately. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with fresh lemon wedges to brighten the flavors.
Notes
- Dryness is Critical: You must pat the scallops completely dry. If they are wet, they will steam rather than roast, resulting in a rubbery texture.
- Broil Option: If the scallops are cooked through but the topping isn’t browned enough for your liking, broil for the last 30-60 seconds. Watch closely to prevent burning!
- Flavor Boost: For an extra kick, add a pinch of smoked paprika or lemon zest to the breadcrumb mixture in step 4.
- Oven Temp: Ensure the oven is fully preheated before adding the seafood so the crust crisps up before the delicate meat overcooks.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Seafood, Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
