These seared scallops were simply amazing! Wanting a unique and flavorful topping and sauce to serve with perfectly sear jumbo sea scallops, I went to the pantry for a bit of inspiration. I saw a container of roasted, salted pistachio nuts and then whipped around to the herb garden for something green that would both pair well and brighten up the chopped nuts. Mint it was! Since the mint is slightly sweet, the pistachios crunchy and salty, I decided for a fresh and simple sauce made with melted butter and a touch of fresh lemon juice. So impressive and literally ready in less than 15 minutes, my recipe for Pistachio & Mint-Crusted Sea Scallops with a Lemon Butter Sauce will quickly move to your list of favorite Spring recipes.
(To view this recipe, click on the blue title of the blog posts above*)
Pistachio & Mint-Crusted Scallops with Lemon Butter Sauce
Ingredients:
- 8 large sea scallops, side muscle removed and patted dried
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- ¼ cup salted, roasted pistachios, shelled
- 2 Tablespoons fresh mint, roughly chopped
- 1 large lemon
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
Directions:
- To make the topping, place the pistachios and mint in the bowl of a small food processor; pulse until finely chopped, but not so much that it becomes a paste. Set the topping aside onto a large plate.
- Heat a large, non-stick skillet over high heat with 1 teaspoon of oil in it. Season each of the scallops with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sear in the pan for 1 minute or until caramelized, then flip and cook another minute. Take each scallop and dip one side onto the plate of pistachios and mint so that the topping adheres. Place the scallops on your serving platter.
- In the same pan that you seared the scallops, add in the lemon juice and the butter; season with a pinch of salt and pepper and over medium-low heat, allow the butter to melt into the lemon juice.
- Serve the scallops with the sauce drizzled onto the bottom of the serving platter.
Tagged: butter, fresh mint, lemon butter, lemon butter sauce, lemon juice, mint, pistachio-crusted scallops, pistachios, scallops, seared scallops
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