Herbed scallops

The perfect appetiser: Start any meal off right with scallops

Seafood is a great start to any special occasion or fancy meal, as it’s light in flavour and won’t leave you too heavy or full for the rest of the meal. Seared scallops have a lovely sweet, slightly buttery flavour that works beautifully, with a touch of herbs and citrus flavours such as lemon or orange. 

Starting your meal with a plate of these lemon herb scallops will set your palate for what is to come, as they are fresh and light, and will brighten your tastebuds and get you excited for the rest of the meal. 

How to cook scallops and make them stand out

You may have seen this delicate seafood on restaurant menus, in seafood stores and more, but have you ever wondered what are scallops? Aside from the potato variety, of course, the ones referred to here are bivalve molluscs and are part of the same family as oysters. You’ll find some scallops that have the pink or orange roe attached. This is, in fact, the reproductive organ and can be eaten as well. 

When it comes to cooking scallops, they can often be found in risotto recipes, pasta or a fish stew like seafood chowder, however, the most popular method is to sear lightly on both sides with butter or oil, some light herbs and a squeeze of citrus. This method will keep them crispy on the outside, but delightfully soft and sweet in the centre – as they should be served. Cooking them in butter gives a slightly different sear and a touch of flavour vs cooking in oil, but both will work equally as well. 

If you’d prefer a barbecue method, you could try BBQ scallops with chilli and herb butter or you could even enjoy them as steamed scallops with ginger and soy. 

What herbs go well with scallops? 

The best herbs for scallops are anything fresh and that won’t overpower the flavour of the seafood itself. We’ve chosen dill, chives and parsley in this recipe for scallops. You could also opt for coriander or tarragon for a stronger flavour when pairing herbs with scallops.  

As with most fish and seafood recipes, you’ll know when they are cooked as they will be browned nicely on the outside and slightly opaque in the centre. Be careful not to let them stick to the frying pan by ensuring the pan is at the right temperature before placing them in the oil or melted butter.  

Presentation time: how to ensure this scallops recipe looks sensational

The last thing to consider is how to serve these bad boys. Serving scallops in a shell gives them a touch of style that you can’t repeat in any other way. The delicate shells of these fabulous little morsels provide a pretty little plate for each mollusc. 

If you aren’t able to find half-shell scallops, they can be served in individual dishes, or as they are on a serving platter, however, they will look that little bit fancier if you can present them in their attractive shells.