
Scallops and Veggies
This dish is easy and healthy, and a nice change from all of the heavy meals typically served during the holidays. It’s simply seared sea scallops on top of layers of vegetables. What could be better!! So, here’s the recipe.
Scallops and Veggies
Serves 2 hearty eaters, or 4
1 medium-sized spaghetti squash, baked
1 pound sea scallops, of uniform size
2 leeks, white part only
Olive oil
1 large purple onion, sliced
2 red bell peppers, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
Black pepper
Butter, for the scallops
Cayenne pepper flakes
Bake the squash using this recipe. Then, after it’s cooled down, use a fork and scrape out all of the strands of spaghetti squash onto a serving platter; keep it warm.
Rinse the scallops, and place them on paper towels to dry off; set aside.
The next step is to clean the leeks. Leeks grow in soil, so they always contain dirt and silt that you need to avoid.
Slice the white ends cross-wise. Place them in a medium bowl and fill the bowl with water. Separate the rings of leeks so that any silt sinks to the bottom of the bowl. Then remove the leeks from the water and place them on paper towels to dry.
Using a large skillet or work, heat the oil over high heat, and add the red peppers and onion when it’s hot. Allow some caramelization, then reduce the heat slightly to cook the vegetables through. Add a little salt and pepper, then place them over the cooked spaghetti squash. Keep warm.
Add a couple more tablespoons of oil and using the same technique, caramelize and then cook the leeks. Add a little salt and pepper, then place the leeks over the red bell pepper and onions.
Switch to a clean, flat skillet to cook the scallops, which should be completely dry. Add about 1 tablespoon of oil, and 1 tablespoon of butter and heat over high heat. The butter will brown, which only adds flavor.
Sear half of the scallops in the oil and butter mixture, for at least one minute. Then turn them over using tongs and sear the other side. Make sure to also season them with salt and pepper, and even garlic pepper if you so desire.
Turn down the heat a little if you feel they’re not completely cook through. Place them on a plate, and continue with the remaining scallops.
When you’re ready to serve, make sure your vegetables are still warm, then top them with the scallops.
Serve from the platter, making sure every serving includes squash, peppers, onions, leeks, and scallops.
I love cayenne pepper flakes on this dish, and you can also offer Sriracha for extra spiciness!
I have also smothered the cooked scallops in chile paste before, and you could always create a sauce with a Thai curry paste for an alternative flavor profile.
But even straight forward, with salt and pepper, the scallop on the vegetables, all cooked to perfection, creates a fabulous dish!
I served this dish with an Albariño, and it was a lovely combination.
note: I could imagine this dish with also lovely sausages or grilled shrimp!
This is one delicious plate of food, Chef Mimi! Love the combination of veggies and I can also easily see this dish with sausages or shrimp.
It’s really good with the chile paste, too, but I realized I was out! Quelle horror!
Love this recipe – I’ve already Pinned it. And I am sooo in love with your photo of this dish with the small pumpkins and the glass of wine – FABULOUS my friend!! ; o )
Thank you so much!!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Love this tower of veggies and scallops!! Looks delicious :)
I especially love the dish spicy. And my husband actually ate the vegetables as a side dish! (He hates scallops, he thinks!)
They are funny – not trying something to see if they even like it! My hubby does that when I make something he thinks is ‘strange’ (meaning healthy!) :)
yeah, i have a long list of foods to avoid, but he’s eve eaten lamb and never realized it…
Too true..we can sneak some things into them without them know it! :)
Thank you Mandy! Happy Thanksgiving!
As a new fan of spaghetti squash, I can’t wait to try this.
oh good! it’s fun stuff!
Such a colourful dish! And I like the tip for cleaning leeks.
oh, thanks! Happy Thanksgiving!
And to you and your family!
Mimi, yes! (I was nodding my head in agreement the whole time I read your post.) After potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and assorted side dishes (not to mention the holiday “main” and dessert to boot), this meal is the perfect, spectacular “ahhhhhh.” I love your 2nd to last photo (3rd to last?) with that one crowning scallop on top of all this veggie healthiness! Thanks for something to look forward to between Thanksgiving and Christmas — and Happy Thanksgiving to YOU!
Thank you Kim!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Wow Mimi. This looks delicious. You should be a world famous chef! xx
Ha! Such a compliment, even though I wouldn’t want to be anyone famous!!!
Healthy and delicious! The photos are lovely, l get hungry looking at them 😊
Thank you so much!
Now this is the way to prepare — and photography — a plate of vegetables. Frankly, I would have been very satisfied with just the vegetables. This is the start of the holidays, however, and if ever there was a time to gild the lily, this be it. Bring on the perfectly seared scallops!
Thank you so much!
Brilliant! That dish looks absolutely delicious! I love scallops and veggies and have never had them with squash – but now I can’t wait to! Thanks for the recipe.
Texturally it’s really a wonderful dish!
Oh goodness, scallops are hands down one of my favorite things to eat! It took me a while to figure out how to cook them properly so they don’t end up rubbery (ick). This dish of your looks divine! I agree, it’s nice to have something light and refreshing to mix things up from all the heavy holiday meals.
I know. I got to eat all of mine, cause my husband won’t eat them!!!
I would prefer them undercooked, rather than overcooked. But they are delicious!
What a beautiful dish! This dish looks like it came from a 4 star restaurant.
Aren’t you sweet? Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!
Yum! My husband loves scallops so we’ll have to try this one. Also, I love that we use the same method of cleaning leeks :) Such a great alternative to typical onions.
I know, they’re so much sweeter! Try the scallops with the chile paste! or not. either way, it’s a wonderful and healthy dish. Although it’s hard to stop eating…
This is gorgeous Mimi!
Renee
Thank you!
Looks great, Mimi. I love scallops.
thanks Stefan!
Thank you so much!
After all the heavy Thanksgiving foods of this weekend, this dish looks like manna from heaven! I love scallops and the combination with the sweet vegetables you chose is wonderful. Can’t what to try it!
Thank you – the combination of all the ingredients is really magical!
Yes, to all of those veggies and seafood! I will sub the scallops for shrimp – my favorite!
That would be a lovely combination as well!
Just goes to show eating light doesn’t mean giving up flavor.
Exactly!
Oh, it is tasty
love scallops! now i want some.