Brown Butter Scallops Recipe
Make these delicious and decadent Brown Butter Scallops that take less than 30 minutes to make and are perfect for your next special occasion!
Ingredients
Lemon Orzo:
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1½ cups orzo
- reserved pasta water
- ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon butter (sub plant-based butter)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice more, if desired
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- garnish: freshly chopped parsley
Brown Butter Scallops:
- 14 large bay scallops (or large sea scallops)
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook Lemon Orzo: Add 3 cups water and 2 cups chicken broth to a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add 1½ cups orzo and let simmer, uncovered, 8-10 minutes or until cooked to al dente. Drain the cooked pasta (BE SURE TO KEEP 1 CUP PASTA WATER) and return the orzo to the pot. To the pot, add ½ cup parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons lemon zest, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, & ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Mix to combine and melt. Add splashes of reserved pasta water to make the consistency more creamy (be sure to do this right before serving).
- Prep Scallops: Put 14 large bay scallops on a paper towel and fully pat dry. Season with salt and pepper.
- Make Brown Butter: Bring a large cast iron skillet to a medium-high heat, & melt 5 tablespoons unsalted butter. Move around the melted butter, semi-continuously with a rubber spatula. The color will turn to a slightly brownish color and you will start to smell a nutty flavor. You will also notice milk solids starting to form on top.
- Cook Scallops: Carefully place the scallops in the hot, brown butter and sear for 3 minutes. Flip and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes. As they cook, use a spoon to scoop some of the brown butter over the top of the scallops. They are fully cooked when they start to "crack" on top.
- Serve: Enjoy right away with some of the lemon orzo!
Notes
- Unsalted Butter: highly recommend using UNsalted butter for this recipe because you can control the saltiness. If you use salted butter, the salt will become more concentrated as the water cooks off and be too strong.
- Lemon Orzo: love this easy side dish with these Brown Butter Scallops but feel free to serve with your favorite side dishes.
- Gluten Free: simply use gluten-free orzo pasta.
Nutrition
Calories: 454kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 2042mg | Potassium: 281mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 629IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 184mg | Iron: 1mg
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