Brown Butter Seared Scallops

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Get perfectly cooked scallops every time with this easy method. Sea scallops (the large ones) are sautéed in butter that turns deliciously nutty as it cooks, to make a super-fast, special dinner. A splash of lemon juice and fresh herbs finish the dish. Round out the menu with sautéed spinach and brown rice or orzo.

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Prep Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
10 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
16 scallops

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

  • 16 sea scallops (about 1 pound) tough side muscle removed, patted dry (see Note)

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs, such as tarragon, sage or parsley

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle scallops with salt and pepper; cook until golden brown on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn the scallops and add herbs and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the pan. Continue cooking, spooning the butter over the scallops, until browned on the bottom and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Divide the scallops among 4 plates and spoon the lemon-butter sauce over them.

Tips

Note: Be sure to buy "dry" sea scallops (scallops that have not been treated with sodium tripolyphosphate, or STP). Scallops that have been treated with STP ("wet" scallops) have been subjected to a chemical bath and are not only mushy and less flavorful, but will not brown properly.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

157 Calories
9g Fat
4g Carbs
14g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 157
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 14g 28%
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 6g 28%
Cholesterol 50mg 17%
Vitamin A 280IU 6%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Folate 19mcg 5%
Sodium 591mg 26%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Magnesium 26mg 6%
Potassium 248mg 5%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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