SAUTéED SCALLOPS

Sautéed Scallops image

Sea scallops and bay scallops differ in size and sweetness. They also cook a little differently. I love a good hard sear on a sea scallop, a little crust, and a splash of wine in the butter at the end to provide a silky acidity against the sweet of the meat. For the tiny, sweet bay scallop, though, I prefer a gentle butter bath. Whichever you cook, be very careful not to overcook. Indeed, there is almost no such thing as an undercooked scallop.

Provided by Sam Sifton

Time 10m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 pound sea scallops, patted dry
Kosher salt, to taste
1 tablespoon dry white vermouth or white wine
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley, for garnish

Steps:

Place a large sauté pan or skillet over medium-high heat, and add to it 3 tablespoons of the butter. When it has melted and started to foam, place the scallops in the pan in a single layer, and season with a pinch or two of salt.
Cook scallops without moving until the bottoms are golden brown, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then turn them over, add the wine and cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 158, UnsaturatedFat 3 grams, Carbohydrate 4 grams, Fat 9 grams, Protein 14 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 446 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams