Bay Scallops Provençal Recipe (2024)

By Florence Fabricant

Bay Scallops Provençal Recipe (1)

Total Time
20 minutes
Rating
5(309)
Notes
Read community notes

Sometimes the best pairings are accidental. One weekend when I had some work to do, I asked my husband to go to the local fish market and pick up one of their marvelous chowders that could be reheated for lunch. He came home instead with a pound of local bay scallops, the first of the season (and abundant this year). Now I had to cook. Fortunately, I had other suitable ingredients on hand and in less than 30 minutes, lunch was on the table. Not one to let a tasting opportunity go to waste, I figured the dish I almost literally threw together would be compatible with a bottle of simple white Burgundy. It had just enough richness in the glass.

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Ingredients

Yield:2 to 3 main-course servings

  • 1pound fresh bay scallops
  • 3tablespoons flour
  • Salt and pepper
  • pepper
  • 2tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1large shallot, minced
  • 2cloves garlic, minced
  • 2plum tomatoes, finely chopped
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • cup dry white wine
  • tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 2tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
  • Toasted baguette slices, for serving

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (3 servings)

331 calories; 16 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 22 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 21 grams protein; 671 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Bay Scallops Provençal Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Season the flour with some salt and pepper and toss the scallops in it. Heat the oil in a 10- to 12-inch skillet. Add the shallot and garlic and sauté over medium heat a few minutes, until soft. Remove, draining well to keep most of the oil in the pan. Increase the heat to medium-high. Shake excess flour from the scallops and sauté them, tossing, until lightly browned.

  2. Step

    2

    Return the shallot and garlic to the skillet. Add the tomatoes and sauté until they soften, a minute or so. Add the lemon juice and wine and stir just until the ingredients are well combined. With a slotted spoon, transfer the scallops to a warm serving dish. (It’s fine if some vegetables hitch a ride with the scallops.)

  3. Step

    3

    Increase the heat to high and reduce the liquid until it thickens to the consistency of heavy cream. Lower heat, swirl in the butter and check the seasoning. Fold in the parsley. Pour the sauce over the scallops and arrange the toast around the platter.

Ratings

5

out of 5

309

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

David Look

Florence says the flour is to help the scallops brown without overcooking. It also adds substance to the sauce. A lighter coating for the scallops would be corn or potato starch. If you make the dish without the flour be sure you dry the scallops very well. You might use some butter instead of just oil in the pan to encourage browning.

charles rotmil

love this. but it can be done without flour too. /scallops flavor is lost somewhat when fried like that.

Jane

thought it was great, we are land locked so I got the frozen scallops at Trader Joe's. Doubled the sauce and served it over pasta, wonderful

Janet Denton Folger

I LOVE bay scallops, having lived on Nantucket for 25 years. My main recommendation is to not cook them too long, as they will quickly turn "rubbery". The other thing that I would suggest is to use a small paring knife and trim off the muscle on each scallop. This will definitely add time to this recipe but is worth every minute.

Colleen

Just so-so. Thought the flavors were a bit on the timid side and the sauce was definitely not enough so I added some anchovies, red pepper flakes and more wine/lemon juice. I’d also skip the flour, which did little more than thicken the sauce but made my beautiful scallops gummy.

Andrew Yarosh

Lots of questions after two trips through the recipe. Using an old school electric stove and restaurant quality cookware. What utensil do you use to get properly minced aromatics out of a fry pan while leaving most of the oil in the pan? Do the scallops stay in the pan when you return the the aromatics and add the tomato, lemon juice and wine? If they do, they get over cooked and tough. Question 3. How do you keep the aromaticsQuestion 3. How do you k

Adrienne

Used frozen bay scallops, but the flour coating didn't work for me - even though I took care to shake off excess, the final sauce was a little gluey - will try cornstarch next time.We had it with multigrain baguette toasts which was nice, but I could see that an angel hair pasta would work well too.The final dish just seemed to be missing a little something, though I couldn't quite put my finger on it. My partner thought it was delicious, so this will stay in the recipe box!

Brooke

Skip the flour

Cynthia

Snowstorm so no fresh fish today and used frozen bay scallops at hand - worked out very well. Would be helpful for this and other recipes if more exact measurements used rather than a "large" whatever. I used less than half a "large" lemon that it proved a bit overwhelming. I will annotate next time,

E.Peevie

Mis en place is important with this recipe. Had half a pound of bay scallops but made the full amount of sauce. So delicious, simple, and super fast. My new favorite way to prepare scallops.

Russ

Did not have fresh tomatoes but had an open can of diced tomatoes. That worked pretty well, although getting the scallops out of the tomatoes was somewhat futile. No matter, I melted the butter into the pan with the remainder of the vegetables and tossed the scallops back in with the parsley. Served this with kale chips and stewed lentils with Moroccan spices. Wine - an Aligote.

Mary G.

This was an easy to make hit for a dinner with friends. It comes together so quickly and easily, I didn't have to spend all evening in the kitchen preparing the meal. Paired with a simple salad... perfection. I doubled the recipe to serve 5-6 ppl.

Maryalice

Just delicious and very simple. Followed as written but used chopped grape tomatoes vs plum and worked fine. Served over thin spaghetti with fresh basil atop. Scallops did not brown much, might add some butter before putting them in the pan, but otherwise super simple and just yummy. 30 minutes start to finish. When bay scallops are in season they must be enjoyed. Pricy this year $40/lb but worth it. Would rather cook it at home then pay for it at a restaurant- simple and tasty!! Bon appetit!!

Es

Beyond good. The cost of Nantucket bay scallops is astronomical but they were the best scallops I've ever had. I bought 3/4s of a pound of these tiny gems and dusted them lightly with flour as directed, cut up about 2 dozen cherry tomatoes, instead of using plum tomatoes, and used plenty of fresh garlic. Made 1/2 pound of spaghetti, which I put into the pot after thickening the sauce, added about a cup of pasta water, and then topped with the cooked scallops. Gorgeous dinner for 2.

Marciafitzgerald

I use ½ pound of scallops and full amount of other ingredients for two people. Serve on angel hair pasta. Put sauce on angel hair first then top with scallops for presentation

pmsbrk

Made with one regular tomato & Sauvignon Blanc wine. It was wonderful!Next time I’d use half the scallops, or double the sauce. Served with brown Basmati rice & steamed green beans.Heaven!!

Deborah

Served with rice pilaf and steamed asparagus. You do need more oil. At least twice as much. It is not a strong tasting dish; rather subtle, but tasty. The sauce does thicken nicely.

Elise

I was hesitant about the tomatoes since I am not a fan, but this was amazing and relatively easy to make. I confess that I just used regular tomatoes since I did not have plum and it still turned out great.

Janet Denton Folger

I LOVE bay scallops, having lived on Nantucket for 25 years. My main recommendation is to not cook them too long, as they will quickly turn "rubbery". The other thing that I would suggest is to use a small paring knife and trim off the muscle on each scallop. This will definitely add time to this recipe but is worth every minute.

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Bay Scallops Provençal Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should bay scallops be soaked in milk? ›

While it may sound like an odd thing to do, soaking scallops in milk is a trick long used by professional chefs and experienced home cooks. This seemingly minor step is actually a game changer and transforms your scallops into tender, succulent morsels with a subtly sweet flavor and a perfectly caramelized exterior.

Should bay scallops be rinsed before cooking? ›

Give your scallops a quick rinse to remove any grit, then thoroughly pat dry with a few paper towels, as excess moisture will inhibit searing. For added insurance, you can dry your scallops in the fridge for an hour or two before cooking.

Do you have to thaw bay scallops before cooking? ›

Before cooking scallops from the frozen section of your market or your freezer, they must be thawed. It takes several hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Never thaw scallops at room temperature. Rinse and pat dry.

Should you soak scallops in salt water before cooking? ›

Brining is the key to great seared scallops

Brining helps to even out the flavor of wet scallops while removing the chemical taste from the STP, explains A Couple Cooks, who recommends mixing 4 cups of room temperature water with 2 tablespoons of kosher salt and letting the scallops sit in the mixture for 10 minutes.

What happens if you don't rinse scallops before cooking? ›

A: You should always rinse scallops thoroughly to remove grit, but there shouldn't be so much grit that you have to soak them. In fact, soaking isn't recommended because the scallops can absorb water and get soggy, less flavorful and difficult to sear properly.

Do I rinse scallops after soaking in milk? ›

Milk will help tenderize these and get rid of their fishy taste and odor. It can also help get rid of extra particles of sand. To do this, rinse them with cold water and then soak them for one hour and then blot them dry as directed above.

Should you cook scallops in butter or oil? ›

Let that butter brown a bit. Then the scallops go in. Scallops are low-fat and high in protein with lots of vitamins, minerals and antioXidant. while I recommend cooking them in butter for the best Sear,you can cook them in vegetable, canola or grapeseed oil if prefeerd.

How long to soak bay scallops in milk? ›

Often the muscle is already washed away or requires a pinch to remove. Then, I recommend soaking the scallops in milk for an hour. This technique works on any fish. It removes the “fishy” odor and taste.

What is the secret to perfect scallops? ›

The secret is that you just pat them dry (buy dry-packed scallops), season with salt and pepper, and put them in a hot pan coated with oil and you leave them alone. Don't touch them. Don't move them.

How do you know when bay scallops are done? ›

Scallops are quick-cooking shellfish, so it's key not to overcook them or they'll dry out. Generally, sea scallops take between 3 and 5 minutes to cook. How to know when scallops are done cooking? They'll be golden brown on both sides, just-firm at the edges and opaque and succulent in the center.

How many scallops per person? ›

How many scallops should you serve? If you're serving scallops as a main course with sides, plan on around 6 ounces per person. That would be 4-6 large (U10) sea scallops and 8-10 medium sized.

What to serve with bay scallops? ›

THE BEST SIDES TO SERVE WITH SCALLOPS
  • POTATOES SIDE DISH. You may not be aware that a potatoes side dish is among the best meals to serve with scallops. ...
  • ROASTED OR GRILLED VEGETABLES. ...
  • CRISPY BRUSSELS SPROUTS. ...
  • REFRESHING SALADS. ...
  • TRUFFLE CREAMED CORN. ...
  • RICE AND QUINOA. ...
  • STEAK.

Should scallops be room temperature before cooking? ›

Place scallops on rimmed baking sheet lined with clean dish towel. Place second clean dish towel on top of scallops and press gently on towel to blot liquid. Let scallops sit at room temperature for 10 minutes while towels absorb moisture.

Why do you soak scallops in milk before cooking? ›

There is one neat trick to prevent this fishy smell and taste — soaking the scallops in milk. The milk will neutralize any fishy notes and aromas while making the flesh more tender.

Is it better to bake or fry scallops? ›

Generally, the best way to cook scallops is searing them. Seared scallops are cooked on the stovetop, usually in a cast iron skillet to get an excellent sear, using butter or oil to get them nice and crispy. The result is a crisp, golden brown exterior with a delicate balance of savory, tender scallops inside.

What does soaking seafood in milk do? ›

Before cooking, soak the fish in milk for 20 minutes

In this scenario, the protein in the milk binds with the compounds that cause that fishy odor, in essence extracting if from the fish.

Why do you soak seafood in milk? ›

We've found an easy way to eliminate the smell: Soak the fish or the shellfish meat in milk for 20 minutes and then drain and pat dry. The casein in milk binds to the TMA, and when drained away, it takes the culprit that causes fishy odor with it. The result is seafood that's sweet smelling and clean-flavored.

Do you rinse fish soaked in milk? ›

Well if you put the seafood in a bowl and add cold milk, cover it and let it sit in the fridge for about a half hour the smell goes away. Then just rinse it off, pat it dry and cook as you normally would.

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