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Quick Creamy Lemon Butter Scallops

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A quick and easy 15-minute seafood dinner featuring seared scallops in a creamy lemon butter sauce, perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound fresh sea scallops, patted dry
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream (60 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons white wine

Instructions

  1. Pat the scallops dry with paper towels and season both sides lightly with salt and pepper. (About 5 minutes)
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of butter. Let it melt and foam but not brown. The pan should be hot enough that a drop of water sizzles immediately. (2 minutes)
  3. Add the scallops carefully to the pan, making sure they don’t touch each other. Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes on the first side until golden brown and crusty. Flip gently using tongs or a spatula. (3-4 minutes)
  4. Sear the other side for another 1-2 minutes until scallops are opaque but still tender inside. Remove scallops from the pan and set aside on a warm plate. (2 minutes)
  5. Lower heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet. Toss in minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned. (30 seconds)
  6. Pour in fresh lemon juice and heavy cream. Stir well, scraping brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Let the sauce simmer gently for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste. (2 minutes)
  7. Return scallops to the pan and spoon sauce over them. Sprinkle fresh parsley and optional red pepper flakes. Heat through for 30 seconds. (1 minute)
  8. Serve scallops plated with extra sauce on top. Pair with crusty bread or a light salad.

Notes

Pat scallops dry before searing for a better crust. Do not overcrowd the pan; sear in batches if necessary. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with olive oil or vegan butter and heavy cream with canned coconut cream.

Nutrition

Keywords: scallops, lemon butter scallops, seafood dinner, quick scallops recipe, creamy scallops, easy seafood, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://wigglebite.com/quick-creamy-lemon-butter-scallops-recipe-easy-15-minute-seafood-dinner/