Scallops with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs

This simple Scallop dish combined beautifully cooked Scallops with a classic pairing of Butter, Garlic, and Breadcrumbs. The contrast of flavors and textures is what makes these Scallops with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs a treat to eat. The simplicity of this dish is perhaps its best asset. With all Seafood, the best way to enjoy it is with only a few ingredients and a few easy steps to prepare. This dish combines the classic pairing of Garlic Butter along with some beautiful textures you achieve with toasted Breadcrumbs. The Scallops are lightly broiled / grilled and served with some Lemon. It’s the perfect Seafood appetizer to kick off a meal

The Inspiration for this Dish

One of our favorite YouTubers / Chefs are these amazing folks over at Fallow. They post so many delicious food videos, and one of them is a great vid on how to prepare Scallops. I think this version with Garlic and Butter is their ‘easy’ recipe, and honestly, I think it’s the best. Like most things in life, the simplest things are often the best. Pairing fresh Scallops with Butter and Garlic is so simple, but it just works!

How to make amazing Scallops with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs

There are two components to this recipe (well, other than getting your hands on some fresh Scallops that is), which are the Breadcrumbs, and the Garlic Butter. I’d suggest preparing the Breadcrumbs first, because once that Garlic Butter is nice and melty is when it’s go-time

Simply combine Breadcrumbs (we prefer Panko for their great flavor and amazing texture), with some Lemon Zest, freshly chopped Parsley, and a pinch of Salt then set it aside. We’ll add about 1 tsp. or so of the Breadcrumb mixture to each Scallop before it gets cooked

Next step is the Garlic Butter, which is super-simple to make. Just melt some Butter in a saucepan over medium heat and then add a Shallot that has been finely diced. Let that cook until it begins to slightly caramelize (about 5 minutes should do it) then add the Garlic

You don’t need to cook the Garlic for too long, as it’ll burn if you do so. Just 1 minute in the Butter is enough for it to release all its beautiful flavor and aromas and then you’re done. The Garlic Butter is then generously drizzled over the Scallops that have been covered in Breadcrumbs before they get cooked

Preparing the Scallops

What’s great about these Scallops with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs is that the Shell of the Scallops is what they are cooked in. Try to get your hands on Scallops in their half-shell, as this will be the easiest to prepare as they will already have been cleaned

Remove the Scallops from the shell (it’ll be stuck somewhat to the shell) by just slowly pushing away the connection between the flesh and the shell using the back of a spoon. You can also use your finger, just take your time to avoid tearing the Scallops

Once removed, give the Scallop a pat dry and clean the Shell. Place the Scallop back on the shell as that’s how we’ll be cooking it. On a large sheet pan, create a little nest with aluminum foil for each of your scallops to sit on while they cook. This will help keep them in place and allow them to evenly face upwards to receive an even cook

Getting our Scallops with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs ready to cook

Once you’ve got your Scallops sitting on the sheet pan it’s simply a matter of adding the Breadcrumbs and Garlic Butter before they get placed under the broiler. Now would be a good time to crank the broiler to its highest heat as you prepare the Scallops

Spoon about 1 tsp. or so of the Breadcrumb mixture to cover the top of the Scallop. It doesn’t matter if some crumble down onto the shells, in fact that’s highly encouraged! Then, drizzle a generous amount of Garlic Butter over the top. Add enough Butter so some will pool into the shell

Then, place them straight under the broiler and cook for about 2 minutes. They won’t take long to cook at all; they are Scallops after all! The best way to gauge doneness is by looking at the Breadcrumbs. Once a few of them start to char and blacken, it’s time to pull them out. They’re now ready to eat!

An alternate plating option we highly recommend trying

While the rustic, classic plating style of serving the Scallops right on their shells is always popular, you can try this other plating technique for something a little different. You’ll have plenty of leftover Garlic Butter and Breadcrumbs, so combine both into one pan and cook them over a low heat until the Breadcrumbs turn golden brown

Then, fill a small bowl full of a few spoonful’s of the Buttery Breadcrumbs and then top it with a Scallop. It looks less rustic and more of a fine-dining style of plating. The additional breadcrumbs add a great texture to the dish, and they look beautiful with a perfectly cooked Scallop sitting atop. You can also serve the Scallops using both plating methods for some nice visual contrast on the table

Scallops with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 Scallops, in their shell
• ½ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
• 100g Unsalted Butter
• ½ Shallot, finely diced
• 4 Garlic Cloves
• ½ cup Fresh Parsley, finely chopped
• Zest of ½ a Lemon
• Lemon Wedges
• Pinch of Salt
  
  

Instructions

1. Remove the Scallops and clean then up if required. Pat dry with a paper towel then place them back onto their shell
2. Form some Aluminum Foil pieces into beds that are slightly larger than the Scallop shapes and place them on a large sheet pan (these will be used to hold the Scallops in position while they cook). Set each Scallop in their shell atop the foil so they’re evenly facing upwards
3. In a small bowl, combine Panko Breadcrumbs, Parsley, and Lemon Zest along with a pinch of salt. Spoon some Breadcrumbs onto the top of each Scallop to cover them (about 1 tsp. per Scallop)
4. Melt the Butter in a saucepan over medium heat then add the Shallot and cook for 5 minutes until it begins to slightly caramelize. Add Garlic and cook for a further 1 minute until fragrant
5. Drizzle the Butter Sauce over the Scallops, adding about 1 tbsp. per Scallop. Try to get a lot of Shallot and Garlic onto each Scallop
6. Place the Scallops under the Broiler and cook for 2 minutes, until the Scallops are just cooked and the Breadcrumbs begin to caramelize. Serve immediately with Lemon Wedges on the side
   
   

Optional presentation style

7. Combine the remaining Butter and Breadcrumb mixture into the saucepan and cook over a medium low heat until the Breadcrumbs begin to caramelize
8. Plate a bed of the Garlic Breadcrumbs onto a small bowl or plate topped with 1 Scallop and serve
   
   

Recipe Notes

• Make sure you clean the Scallop Shells with water before returning the Scallop to them for cooking
• Try to cook the Scallops the same day you purchase them
  
  

For a tasty Seafood Appetizer, we highly recommend you give these Scallops with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs a try. They’re so easy to make, as the dish requires very little time or effort. Yet, the flavors are big and highlight the amazing versatility of Scallops

For more delicious Seafood Appetizers, check out these wonderful recipes:

• Tuna Carpaccio with Lemon and Soy
• Salmon Sashimi with Scallion Sauce
• Grilled Mackerel with Romesco Sauce
• Salt and Pepper Squid
  
  

Happy Cooking!