Description
Creamy Tuscan Scallops bring Mediterranean seafood magic right to your dinner table, packed with rich garlic, spinach, and sun-dried tomato flavors that dance together perfectly. Delicate scallops swim in a luscious parmesan cream sauce that makes your taste buds feel like they’re vacationing along the Italian coast.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb large sea scallops
Dairy and Cream:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 cup baby spinach
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Thoroughly dry 1 lb sea scallops with paper towels. Generously season both surfaces with salt and pepper.
- Warm 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet at 400°F. Carefully place scallops and sear for exactly 2 minutes per side until deep golden brown.
- Transfer golden scallops to a separate plate. Reduce skillet temperature to medium heat.
- Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for precisely 90 seconds.
- Pour 1 cup heavy cream into the skillet. Bring liquid to a gentle 190°F simmer.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning into cream. Stir until mixture slightly thickens.
- Add 1 cup baby spinach to sauce. Cook until leaves completely wilt and soften.
- Nestle seared scallops back into the creamy sauce. Warm for 1 minute, gently coating each piece.
- Optional: Enhance with fresh basil, squeeze of lemon juice, or red pepper flakes before serving immediately.
Notes
- Always pat scallops completely dry before cooking to ensure a perfect golden-brown sear without steaming.
- Use a heavy-bottomed skillet and get it hot before adding scallops to create a beautiful caramelized exterior.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and use less butter while maintaining rich flavor.
- When cooking scallops, resist the urge to move them in the pan and let them develop a gorgeous crust undisturbed.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 367 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 430 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg