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30 Romantic Dinner Ideas: Scallops with Lemon Herb Sauce & More!

Sauce for scallops
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4 from 2 reviews

Here are the tricks to how to cook pan seared scallops and get that perfect brown crust! Follow these simple tips for a simple romantic dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound sea scallops, thawed if frozen
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (tarragon, thyme, parsley, etc)

Instructions

  1. Thaw the scallops, if frozen (see above).
  2. Brine the scallops: In a shallow dish, mix together 4 cups room temperature water and 2 tablespoons kosher salt. Place the scallops in the water and wait for 10 minutes.
  3. Remove the scallops and dry thoroughly. Lightly season with a several pinches kosher salt.
  4. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. If using a medium skillet, cook the scallops in two batches. Once the oil is hot, add the scallops and cook without turning for 2 to 3 minutes,  until an even brown crust clearly forms on bottom.
  5. Flip scallops with tongs. Cook additional 2 to 3 minutes on the other side, until a crust just forms on bottom and the center of the scallop is almost opaque.
  6. Remove the scallops from the skillet to a plate and reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter, lemon juice, minced garlic and chopped herbs. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula to release flavor from any browned bits stuck to the pan. Cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  7. Reduce the heat to low. Add the scallops and cover them with sauce. Then remove from the heat and serve immediately.