Seared Scallops With Jammy Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Jeff

Why not do this in reverse order, searing the scallops first? That way, the cooking tomatoes can deglaze the pan and the scallops can be added last, all without draining or wiping the skillet.

Ana

This was so flavorful! One comment asked why not do the scallops first and then deglaze with the tomatoes; that sounded like a more logical approach, but I realized in doing so your scallops have to sit out and wait for the tomatoes to simmer... and there is no good way to reheat a scallop. So, I made it in the recipe’s original order of operations. I had a lot of the broth leftover, and thought it would taste great with steamed mussels and clams. So round 2 was equally awesome!

Annie B

Used this as a base for pasta sauce. Diced & cooked scallops, reserved on the side covered with foil. Cooked mostly as directed with less butter, more garlic, added crushed red pepper. Added scallops back to the pan with squirt of fresh lemon juice & basil, bit of the pasta water. . Served over wheat, thin spaghetti. Deelish

justin

Made this last night. When I was reading the recipe I thought that something feels off with the chemistry here. The tomatoes won’t get carmelized or jammy and sweet without direct heat. I was right. The tomatoes shed a lot of water and with the wine broth already going, it ended up heading towards sauce. Next time will do tomatoes with oil on a higher heat, for a longer period, and fewer of them, and do the wine and shallots separately.

M.R

I think it’s always helpful to pre-cook the tomatoes in a very hot oven - 450 - for maybe 10-15 minutes to help get that caramelized taste. Works in most recipes that call for pan-cooking cherrry tomatoes.

Mystikal Hehdstok

Imma roast the tomatoes with the garlic and shallots first, sear the scallops, deglaze that with the wine, then throw it all together in the pan for a few to meld stuff up. It’s one more pan; get over it. Besides, where do you have to go?

Kati

I made this astounding dish last night per recipe. I used our home grown cherry tomatoes (red & yellow). I toasted some bread in a pan with butter, rubbed some garlic on it and used it to soak up the ‘jammy’ cherry/scallop juice. Beyond delicious and so simple! The freshest scallops are required for this.

Julie

I love this recipe, but it takes longer than stated, and making it all in one pan makes no sense. Prepare the tomato sauce (summer-ripened cherry tomatoes make all the difference), and when it's done sear the scallops in a different pan--I like cast iron. Place the scallops in the pan with the sauce, along with the lemon juice and the lemon zest (very important), and you're done.

Rebecca

One of the best recipes I’ve made! Roasted the tomatoes with salt and pepper for 15 min at 450F before adding to the shallot/garlic/butter mixture. Once the tomatoes were heated through, cooked the scallops in a separate pan before adding to the wonderful jammy tomatoes. Excellent with focaccia.

Rita

Thanks to Mystikal Hehdstok's excellent advice! I roasted the tomatoes, shallots and garlic in oil in a 450 degree oven. Sauteed the scallops in butter in two batches. Took scallops out, deglazed with wine. Scallops in serving dish, tomatoes on top, then reduced wine/butter, then herbs. What a presentation! And so very delicious!

gimlet rose

Cooked this with both shrimp and scallops. Cooked the shellfish first, then the tomatoes, then returned the shrimp and scallops to the pan for a quick warm-up. I forgot to put in the wine and I didn't even notice because the tomatoes were juicy. The tomatoes did mostly hold their shape, as in the picture. I served it over couscous, which was tasty.

M.R

Scallops need to come out of the pan or they will toughen!

susan

Made Jammy Tomatoes a few hours ahead, roasted tomatoes in oven and poured off the liquid. Delicious. Had jammy Tomatoes left over (I cook just for myself),reheated to enjoy with cedar plank grilled salmon. Most satisfying! Sautéed the scallops in clarified butter. Five stars.

dimmerswitch

Made absent the scallops. The jammy cherry tomatoes are a delicious partner with burrata or on bruschetta or as part of cheese / charcuterie / olives and crostini plate for a simple meal.

Tina Rex

Amazing! I made as per the directions, but first sautéed zucchinis which I took out of the pan before the tomatoes. Yum yum.

Diane

I took advice and did this n two pans—the tomatoes in one and seared scallops n the other, then added scallops to the tomatoes. Terrific flavors here, a big hit for my husband and me. Included all ingredients as written.

High in CO

Don’t halve the lemon until you’ve zested the rind.

linda

This was flavorful. I made it as directed and the tomatos just turned into a regular consistency sauce. Next time I will definitely roast tomatoes as others have said so i actually get “jammy” tomatoes.

Hank

I added grapeseed oil and then the scallops while pushing everything else to the side of the pan. I did not want to take things out and put them back in.

Mel

I made this exactly as stated and it was perfect. The only thing is that the recipe doesn’t say to zest the lemon so make sure you do it before you juice it. Highly recommend!

Some Guy

I wasn't in the mood for tomatoes the other day, so I made this without the tomatoes and 1/2 the salt. Superb.

greg in san diego

I love this recipe. I’ve made it a dozen times now.

Jacob

This was very good and I highly recommend the recipe. I agree with others that you should just use one pan for the sauce and another for the scallops. The picture was also nothing like what the final dish turned out looking like, since the tomatoes turned into a sauce and there weren't any plump tomatoes left.

Betsy

Maybe tomatoes and scallops are not great together. Cherry tomatoes & scallops are both very sweet. Scallops alone are better.

Ken

This is SO good. But pro tip: open a fresh bottle of wine, and drink away while you’re cooking. I used Pinot Grigio and everyone won in the end!

Tricia

Just one quibble: editors should not put “one lemon, halved” on the ingredients list and then bury the fact that the zest will be needed in the instructions. It’s a silly chore to try and zest half-lemons!

Mark Cullings

Prepared the sauce in advance, and served it over pasta w/ topped with the scallops. It was a big hit, although I might add some red pepper flakes to the sauce for a little heat.

LuLu

This is amazing! My one quibble with the recipe is that the ingredients list should say, "one lemon, zested and halved." I compiled my ingredients before realizing that the lemon needed to be zested, and it's a lot more difficult to zest lemon halves than the lemon as a whole. Yeah, I should have read the entire recipe before compiling my ingredients. But still!

Di

Substituted shrimp at least a year ago, and been using freeze-dried shallots. Quick and delicious!

mary

Precook tomatoes 450- 10-15 min.

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Seared Scallops With Jammy Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do you soak scallops in before cooking? ›

Soaking scallops in milk before cooking can serve as a tenderizing agent, help eliminate mild fish odor, and aid in removing sand or grit.

What not to do when cooking scallops? ›

Overcooking your scallops

With scallops, the (ahem) stakes are higher. Not only are they an expensive ingredient, but they cook very quickly. Worse yet, over-cooking leaves them dry and rubbery, rather than tender and sweet, and their size and shape make them impractical candidates for an instant-read thermometer.

Should you rinse scallops before searing? ›

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.

Why do you soak scallops in milk before cooking? ›

Soaking scallops in milk

According to Livestrong.com, the milk will neutralize any fishy notes and aromas while also making the flesh more tender. Not only is this milk-soaking technique effective for scallops, but it also works for a range of seafood and fish.

Should I use oil or butter for scallops? ›

Scallops are low-fat and high in protein with lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. While I recommend cooking them in butter for the best sear, you can cook them in vegetable, canola or grapeseed oil if preferred.

What is the best oil for searing scallops? ›

What type of oil should you use to cook scallops? A light, neutral oil with a high smoke point. Extra virgin olive oil will begin to smoke immediately over high heat. Instead, reach for grapeseed oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil.

How do you season scallops before searing? ›

Salt & Pepper: You always need to season your food before you cook it. While scallops are naturally sweet, they will need some salt and pepper. We recommend using fine sea salt or kosher salt along with freshly cracked black pepper.

What is the key to cooking scallops? ›

How to cook scallops:
  1. Get the pan hot. Scallops cook very quickly, so the best way to get a good sear is to start with a very hot pan. ...
  2. Don't crowd the pan. ...
  3. Start with oil, not butter. ...
  4. Cook mostly on the first side. ...
  5. Be careful not to overcook.
Nov 9, 2023

How many scallops per person for dinner? ›

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. Appetizer portions would be half of that.

Do you cook scallops on high or low heat? ›

After searing a few batches, we determined that scallops are perfectly cooked when their centers reach 115 degrees. Because scallops are so small and are usually cooked over high heat, carryover cooking will add another 10 to 15 degrees, for an ideal final temperature of 125 to 130 degrees.

Should scallops be at room temp before cooking? ›

Let scallops sit at room temperature for 10 minutes while towels absorb moisture. 2. Sprinkle scallops on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12‑inch nonstick skillet over high heat until just smoking.

Should scallops be seared on both sides? ›

Once it's smoking, add the scallops. Don't crowd the pan and work in two batches if necessary. Sear the scallops for 2 minutes on each side, until the sides are golden and the centers are translucent. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Why didn't my scallops sear? ›

Damp scallops don't sear or brown in the pan.

The drier they are, the better they will sear. Frozen scallops will have more moisture, so take extra care when patting them dry. For an extra fail-safe, I add a light dusting of flour to each side of the scallops.

What is the best temperature to sear scallops? ›

You'll want to heat your pan to around 450°F (232°C) or higher before you add your scallops. Heat the pan over medium-high heat, adding the oil at the beginning of the heating.

What are scallops soaked in? ›

Wet scallops are treated with a solution of water and sodium tripolyphosphate, or STPP, which preserves them as soon as they are harvested at sea. Then they're often frozen. This preserves them, but it also helps them to hold on to a lot more water weight.

Are you supposed to soak scallops in milk? ›

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.

Why do you soak scallops in salt water? ›

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.

Do I need to soak scallops in milk? ›

Why do you soak them 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.

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