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Home » Recipes » Dinner

Seared Scallops with Tomato Cream Sauce

By Erin · May 10, 2021 · Updated September 26, 2021 · 1 Comment

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Gluten Free
seared scallops on a plate and in a skillet

These buttery, melt-in-your-mouth Seared Scallops will have you feeling like you're eating in a fancy restaurant, not your own kitchen. You'll be shocked at how quickly this meal comes together and just how wonderful it tastes!

seared scallops in a red sauce with fresh basil

Today I'm excited to share these easy and delicious seared scallops with you!

They're actually not my recipe -- NOPE -- they're from How Sweet Eats' new cookbook, Everyday Dinners, aka a cookbook featuring SO MANY dinner recipes!

My favorite things about this book are that the recipes are approachable, incredibly flavorful (as all of Jessica's recipes are) and that there's a photo to accompany every recipe! I don't know about you, but when I'm cooking from a cookbook, I like to see what the final product should look like.

Plus, I was fortunate enough to get to help with the food styling on this book, which also meant that I was able to taste test many of the recipes ahead of time. Two words: SO GOOD.

Recipe features

  • Scallops are pan-seared, so they're slightly browned and crispy on the outside but perfectly tender inside
  • The tomato cream sauce is a combination of fire roasted tomatoes, shallots and cream -- the easiest homemade sauce you'll ever make!
how sweet eats cookbook on a table

Ingredient notes:

Though this is not my recipe, I'm going to provide a few easy substitution options and further clarification on the below:

Scallops: Fresh or frozen; if using frozen, make sure to thaw them ahead of time

Shallot: Don't omit! The shallot adds more flavor and pairs really well with the garlic. If you're in a pinch, I imagine you can substitute ¼ cup diced sweet onion instead.

Brown sugar: Again, I wouldn't omit, but you can substitute a different kind of sugar if you prefer.

Fire roasted tomatoes: My favorite! You should be able to find them at almost any grocery store these days. I rarely use plain diced tomatoes -- simply put, fire roasted are just better!

Heavy cream: Can sub half and half; wouldn't use dairy-free milk though. You want the sauce to be CREAMY.

Method

First: Make the sauce. Begin by sautéing the shallot and garlic with the olive oil in a saucepan, then stir in the brown sugar, tomato paste, basil, and oregano and cook for 5 minutes. Next, add the tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes.

diced tomatoes in a saucepan

Second: Blend. Transfer the sauce to a blender (or use an immersion blender) and pulse until smooth. Pour the sauce back into the saucepan and stir in the cream.

blended tomato sauce in a blender and in a saucepan

Third: Pan-sear the scallops. Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel, then heat butter in a large saucepan or skillet. Once the butter is melted and golden brown, add the scallops, making sure not to over-crowd the pan, and cook them for 1-2 minutes per side.

Fourth: Combine. Serve the scallops over the tomato cream sauce, and drizzle any of the leftover brown butter over top.

Tips and tricks

-Make sure to pat the scallops dry before searing them; that way, they get crispy on the outside.

-While you can use any size scallops, I recommend opting for medium-large scallops because they're easier to sear.

seared scallops in a large skillet with tomato sauce

More delicious seafood recipes:

  • Garlic Zucchini Noodle Pasta with Shrimp
  • Salmon Caesar Salad
  • Honey Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry

Be sure to pick up a copy of How Sweet Eats' cookbook, Everyday Dinners, online or wherever books are sold!

seared scallops in a red sauce with fresh basil

Seared Scallops with Tomato Cream Sauce

These buttery, melt-in-your-mouth Seared Scallops will have you feeling like you're eating in a fancy restaurant, not your own kitchen. You'll be shocked at how quickly this meal comes together and just how wonderful it tastes!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 shallot diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 14 oz. fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 lb. scallops thawed
  • black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Heat a pot or large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the shallot and garlic with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until softened. Stir in the brown sugar, tomato paste, basil, and oregano and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the fire roasted tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree or use an immersion blender to smooth it out.
  • Pour the sauce back into the pot and heat on low. Stir in the cream. Turn off the heat.
  • Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wait until the butter just begins to brown, then add the scallops in a single layer -- do not crowd the pan. You may need to work in batches.
  • Cook the scallops for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Serve the scallops over the tomato cream sauce, drizzling any extra brown butter from the skillet on top. Enjoy!

Notes

*Calories are per serving and are an estimation

Nutrition

Calories: 452kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 1284mg | Potassium: 665mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1808IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Leave a comment below and tag @thealmondeater on Instagram!
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About Erin

Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bill TAYLOR says

    September 06, 2021 at 5:52 pm

    5 stars
    Note there isn't a listing for the amount of butter....

    Reply

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