Rosemary, Pepper and Lemon Spiced Scallops

Two sear scallops garnished with parsley and a lemon wedge.

Courtesy of grocery.coop, recipe by Robin Asbell
Recipe Information
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2

This is a fresh variation on spice rub, with fresh rosemary and lemon zest building intense flavor. It keeps for a week in the refrigerator, and is delicious on fish or chicken. For these scallops, a simple sear builds a tasty crust to hold the sweet, tender scallop meat.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 8 large sea scallops
  • Vegetable oil

Preparation

  1. Crush or grind the rosemary, lemon zest, peppercorns and salt coarsely using a spice grinder, food processor, or a mortar and pestle.
  2. Spread half of the spice mix on a plate and dip the flat sides of each scallop into the spice, lightly dusting the surface. Spread the remaining rub over the scallops and pat it on. Heat a large, heavy skillet until very hot, then pour in canola oil to coat the pan. Carefully place the scallops in the pan and sear; don’t disturb them until the edges are turning golden brown and starting to split, about 2 minutes. Flip the scallops and sear the other side, about 2 minutes.
  3. Remove scallops from the pan. Serve hot.

Serving Suggestion

Serve scallops piled on a simple creamy pasta, cooked rice, or a bed of cooked spinach.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 86, Fat: 5 g, Cholesterol: 14 mg, Sodium: 833 mg, Carbohydrate: 3 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Protein: 7 g