Scallops do not have to be a special occasion food. Why not make them for absolutely no reason? On a Tuesday? We recently spent $10 on some local scallops (much less than we'd spend on steak) and they were ready to eat in five minutes.
Scallops are a great option for a fast, weeknight meal. They really need nothing more than a sprinkle of salt and pepper and a quick sear in a frying pan. You can place them over rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables—or top them with a quick salsa a la Phoebe's Scallops with Tomatillo Guacamole and Corn Salsa.
As for the price... Yes, scallops are more expensive than eating a scrambled egg or a chicken breast. The ones we bought a few nights ago were $14.99 a pound, and we bought $10 worth for two people. It was plenty, and the rest of dinner (risotto with some chopped bacon and leftover corn) was cheap.
Why not treat yourself on a weeknight? Or, at the very least, keep scallops in mind as an alternative to red meat if you want something that feels fancy but takes zero effort to make.
Read this tutorial before you head to the store: How to Buy, Clean, and Cook Scallops
Related: What's the Difference? Wet, Dry, and Diver Scallops
(Image: Flickr member FotoosVanRobin, licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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Comments (9)
What do scallops taste like? Similar to mussels? More like fish?
Scallops as candy of the sea - that is true. How anyone could not like scallops is beyond me.
And thank you for including an extra tid-bit of how to buy and prepare scallops. I can look for recipes anywhere, but the buying and prep info is best of all.
Thanks for the shout out Elizabeth!
I have a bit of an obsession with scallops for all of the reasons you stated above, so could not agree with you more!
This risotto looks absolutely beautiful as a bed for them!
This makes me want scallops. I guess that's what I'm making for dinner tomorrow. YUM :)
Ummmm Scallops. We love them here. Tiamat - I don't know how to describe the flavor - you just have to try them. If they're good a fresh, they have a somewhat sweet flavor. Just delicious and as everyone has said quick and easy to cook. Make sure not to overcook or they turn to rubber. Depending on size, they should cook in 5 minutes or less over a good hot fire.
I used to buy scallops at fish counter but realized they have been frozen once anyway (at least my store) so started buying at frozen food aisle. It's cheaper and since it's frozen you can have them anytime you want. I buy frozen ones at BJ's. They are pretty good.
Believe it or not we've had very good luck finding wonderful frozen scallops at our local Super Target - not cheap but always delicious - ummmm I think we'll have scallops for dinner tonight!
I buy fresh, wild scallops at my Whole Foods probably once a week. I just sear them in a pan and usually eat them with a salad. They're my current favorite food!
Maybe I'm being cranky, but it's kind of frustrating when you guys use a picture of something delicious looking, but the actual recipe is nowhere to be found ....