Scallops with Spicy Tomato Sauce
Bay scallops seared until golden brown, then finished off with a fresh spicy tomato sauce. A quick and easy dinner option to prepare in less than 30 minutes!
Scallops are not popular at my dinner table. But when I have the craving, I love pairing it with a spicy tomato sauce. I also do the same for shrimp and snapper. A tomato-based sauce well seasoned gives you many options; white rice, plain pasta, or boiled root vegetables are perfect to create a complete meal.
Scallops are easy to cook. They do not take long to cook and are perfect for quick dinners. Seared scallops are my absolute favorite way to prepare fresh scallops and one of the best ways to enjoy fresh seafood.
How to buy Scallops – Bay Scallops vs Sea Scallops
For this recipe, you can either use small bay scallops or sea scallops. Whatever your budget is, you can create this meal in minutes.
Bay scallops are sweeter in flavor and are caught in shallow waters closer to bays. Sea scallops have more edible meat and are caught further away from land. Both can be pan-seared, but because sea scallops are larger, they look more appetizing when seared.
When selecting fresh scallops for a recipe, look for scallops that smell fresh and are uniform in size. If you’re using frozen packaged scallops, all of them won’t be the same size. But that’s okay because the scallops will be served in a tomato sauce. Just make sure that they are thoroughly thawed. Before seasoning them, pat them dry with a paper towel.
Tips for the perfect cooked Scallops with a Spicy Tomato Sauce
The key to making perfect seared scallops is making sure that they are patted dry, as mentioned earlier. This would keep them from releasing too much water when added to the pan. Also, make sure that they are not crowded and in a single layer in the pan. The pan must also be at the right temperature. You can choose to cook them in batches to ensure that they sear nicely.
If you’re using large scallops, cook them for 2-3 minutes per side.
The tomato sauce is prepared separately and mixed with the scallops. You can either make My Spicy Tomato Sauce or make this quick tomato sauce from scratch. Check out the recipe below.
The dish is best served with white rice or plain quinoa. But that’s just my preference. You can also serve the dish with pasta if you prefer.
Scallops’ dishes are always served immediately. I don’t usually have any leftovers but if you do, make sure you eat them no longer than two days after cooking them. Avoid reheating them in the microwave. The stovetop is better for reheating.
Seasoning blend for seared scallops
Choosing the right seasoning blend to sear scallops is based on taste and what you have available. The usual salt and pepper will do the trick because you add the tomato sauce to the scallops.
You can choose a garlic blend seasoning such as Noubess Garlic and Herbs Seasoning or even Noubess BBQ Seasoning to add just a hint of smoky taste.
For the sauce, you can use Noubess Original Hot and Spicy Sauce. The sauce will create a delightful and tasty dish.
The recipe
Do you have tomatoes that are too soft to eat in salads? Don’t worry, and you can use them in this recipe.
Ingredients:
- bay scallops
- olive oil
- garlic cloves
- salt and pepper
- fresh tomatoes or canned diced tomatoes
- Noubess Original Hot and Spicy Sauce
- small red onion
- lemon juice
Instructions
- Pat the scallops dry on both sides with a paper towel. Season the scallops on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add the fresh garlic and the scallops in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side for smaller scallops and 2 – 3 minutes per side for larger scallops.
- Remove the scallops and garlic from the pan.
- Add the Noubess Sauce, diced tomatoes, and cook for about 2 minutes or until the tomato has released most of its juice. Add the lemon juice and stir. Season the sauce to taste.
- Return the scallops to the pan of tomato sauce. Spoon the sauce over the top. Let cook for not more than 2-3 minutes, then serve immediately.
Scallops with Spicy Tomato Sauce is a quick and tasty dinner choice. Serve them with White Rice, Farro, Pasta, or Mashed Potatoes.
Scallops with Spicy Tomato Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ pound bay scallops
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves each sliced in half
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup fresh tomatoes or can diced tomatoes
- ½ – 1 tsp Noubess Original Hot and Spicy Sauce (depending on your taste buds and heat preference)
- 1 small red onion sliced
- ½ tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Pat the scallops dry on both sides with a paper towel. Season the scallops on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add the fresh garlic and the scallops in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side for smaller scallops and 2 – 3 minutes per side for larger scallops.
- Remove the scallops and garlic from the pan.
- Add the Noubess Sauce, diced tomatoes, onion and cook for about 2 minutes or until the tomato has released most of its juice. Add the lemon juice and stir. Season the sauce to taste.
- Return the scallops to the pan of tomato sauce. Spoon the sauce over the top. Let cook for not more than 2-3 minutes, then serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
Nutrition info is automatically generated and provided as a courtesy and as an estimate only.
What about the onion? Mentioned in ingredients but not steps.
Thank you! The onion has been added to the steps.