Get ready to enjoy a savory meal of baked parmesan crusted scallops. It’s a delicious and easy-to-make dish that’s perfect for a special occasion or a fancy dinner at home.
I recently learned that my very favorite surf and turf restaurant will be closing. To enjoy it one last time, my sister and I went there for dinner. I could not believe my eyes at the asking price of the scallops. They were 3x the cost they were the last time I dined there (only a few months before).
I know the restaurant cited rising food costs as one of the reasons for closing. I am sure you see it in the grocery store, just like I do. Food costs are crazy! I don’t want to give up on my favorite dishes, so instead I will just have to come up with a more economical way to enjoy them — and right now that includes making restaurant-quality dishes at home.
If you are looking for other tastes-like-it-came-from-a-restaurant seafood dishes that are easy to make and easy on your budget, give some of these other recipes a try:
Shrimp Scampi
Fried Calamari Salad
Mediterranean Whitefish
What Are Scallops?
Scallops can be found all over the world, from the cold waters of Alaska to the warm waters of the Caribbean, and are a type of shellfish known as bivalves. They have a sweet and delicate flavor and are often served as a main dish or used in seafood stews and soups.
There are two main types of scallops: sea scallops and bay scallops. Sea scallops are larger and have a saltier taste, while bay scallops are smaller and have a milder, sweeter taste.
Scallops are a good source of protein, low in fat, and contain important nutrients such as vitamin B12, magnesium, and potassium. They may also help improve heart health, boost the immune system, and promote healthy skin.
How To Buy Scallops
To pick out scallops, you can either visit a seafood market or your local grocer. Look for scallops that are fresh, firm, dry, and have a clean smell to them. Avoid scallops that have a strong fishy odor and ones that are slimy to the touch. Ask the seller about the origin and harvest date, if possible.
Watch for any discoloration in the scallops. Also, if they have been exposed to oxygen the quality becomes compromised.
Baked Parmesan Crusted Scallops
Ingredients:
1½ lbs fresh scallops
¾ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
¼ cup butter (softened)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp olive oil
1½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp paprika
¼ cup fresh parsley (chopped)
salt & pepper (to taste)
Getting Prepped
In order to make this or any other dish as quickly and as easily as possible, do your prep work before you begin, rather than “as-you-go”. Aside from the scallops, that will include:
Once you have those things ready to go, rinse your scallops under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel. There will be a small muscle located on the side of the scallops that needs to be removed. To do so, simply pinch the fibrous muscle with your thumb and index finger and pull away.
If you are using frozen scallops, be sure they have been thawed completely. Do not thaw them at room temperature. For best results, allow them to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
How to Make the Recipe
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
You will need a 9×13 casserole dish. Spread your olive oil on the bottom of the baking dish.
Place your prepped scallops in a single layer inside the baking dish.
In a small bowl, add in the butter, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, and parmesan cheese, then whisk it all together. Season it with your salt and pepper, as desired.
Add a small dollop of the parmesan cheese mixture to the top of each scallop. I just eyeball the amount, making sure all the cheese mix is used up and all the scallops are well topped.
Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and place in the oven to bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the scallops become opaque. Fish and shellfish, like scallops, are considered cooked through and safe to eat when the internal temp reaches 145°F.
Take the scallops out of the oven and remove the foil. Now, return the scallops to the oven, but switch it to broil. Broil until the tops of the scallops turn golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes.
Cool Bean Cooking Tip: Stay near the oven while broiling the scallops. They can burn very easily, so it is best to watch them closely.
Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven. Sprinkle with your chopped parsley, and serve with your favorite salad or vegetable side dish.
With this simple baked parmesan crusted scallops recipe, anyone can make a restaurant quality seafood meal at home in 30 minutes.
Did you give this savory scallop dish a try? Let me know in the comments below or snap a photo and tag @coolbeanliving on Instagram. I’d love to see it!
Baked Parmesan Crusted Scallops
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs fresh scallops
- ¾ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- ¼ cup butter softened
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp paprika
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Spread the olive oil on the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan
- Rinse the scallops and pat them dry well, then arrange in a single layer in the pan.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, and parmesan cheese. Season with salt & pepper, to taste.
- Add a small portion of the parmesan mixture on top of each scallop.
- Cover pan with aluminum foil tightly; bake in oven until scallops become opaque, about 15-20 minutes.
- Take scallops out of oven and remove foil. Return scallops to oven; switch to broil. Broil until tops turn goldn-brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from oven; garnish with fresh parsley. Serve immediately.