Seared Scallops with Fresh Tomato-Basil Sauce and Orzo Recipe

Name: Seared Scallops with Fresh Tomato-Basil Sauce and Orzo Recipe
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: European, Italian, Mediterranean
Ingredients: 1/4 cup olive oil, divided; 1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion (from 1 large onion); 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 6 cloves); 2 pints cherry tomatoes; 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil, divided; 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided; 3/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided; 16 dry-packed jumbo scallops (about 1 lb.); 1 1/2 cups uncooked orzo pasta; 1/4 cup salted butter; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

Cook:30min

In just 30 minutes you can have restaurant-worthy seared scallops ready for a delicious weeknight dinner. This summertime recipe makes great use of your garden tomatoes and basil. Need a break from pasta? Grits or rice are both great substitutions for the orzo. Sea scallops, also called large or jumbo scallops, are up to three times larger in size than bay scallops. They have a sweet, delicate flavor and slightly chewy texture. The jumbo scallops make great main dishes, and the smaller bay scallops are ideal stirred into pasta dishes or tossed onto salads. Look for dry-packed scallops, which are packed without extra water or preservatives. This helps them brown nicely when cooked. Dry-packed scallops have a shorter shelf life than wet-packed scallops, so cook them the day you buy them.

Updated at: Sat, 29 Mar 2025 15:13:36 GMT