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Spanish Scallops with Garlic Recipe

There are times when looking for scallop dinner ideas feels like looking for water in the desert: some recipes for scallops are difficult to make, others have many ingredients and the scallop is overshadowed, etc.

In this article, we will introduce you to Spanish scallops, a seafood dish that is easy to make, where all the flavors complement each other and will be ready in less than 30 minutes.

Whether it’s for a date night at home, a family visit, or if you just want to step up your home cook game, then these Spanish scallops are perfect for you.

spanish scallops in a bowl with lemon, garlic, and parsley next to it. Delicious Spanish Scallops with Garlic Recipe

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Background of the Dish

Spanish scallops on a white plate with garlic and butter sauce.

Andalusia should be synonymous with fantastic seafood, having several recipes of this style that are amazing, such as the Spanish seafood stew or the Spanish octopus recipe.

However, there are other hidden gems such as Spanish scallops. In this case, we are talking about scallops with garlic and butter sauce, which originated in the humble regions of the Andalusian coast.

This recipe was a cheaper way in which sailors and their families could take advantage of surplus seafood since they only needed butter and garlic. 

With time, people noticed how delicious it was and it spread to all parts of Spain and the world.

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a pot with garlic scallops on a wooden table with garlic next to it. In the middle it's written Spanish scallops with garlic recipe.

Things You’ll Need for Spanish Scallops with Garlic

To make the best scallops recipe you only need 3 main ingredients: scallops, garlic, and butter.

A pan and a stove are all the kitchen equipment needed for these Spanish scallops.

fresh scallops and garlic cloves on a wooden table for spanish scallops

Ingredients

  • 8 scallops
  • 1/2 cup (100g) butter
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 5 tablespoons Oil
  • fresh parsley (optional)

How to Make Spanish Scallops with Garlic – Step by Step Guide

closeup with scallops being fried in a pan
  1. The first step in the best scallop recipe is to clean the scallops. You have to remove them from the shell and separate the meat from the coral. Then wash them well and dry them with absorbent paper (sometimes they get some sand inside). You can skip this step if you buy them already clean and free from the shell.
  1. Up next on this garlic scallops take a pan to the stove and heat a few tablespoons of oil. Season the scallops with salt and pepper.
  1. Now cook the Spanish scallops for 30 seconds on each side. Set them aside.
  1. In the same pan, melt butter over low heat so that it doesn’t burn. In the meantime mince the garlic cloves.
  2. After that, add the minced garlic to the pan and stir so that everything is well integrated.
  1. Then, add the scallops, raise the heat to medium, and cook for 3 minutes, covering the scallops with the butter and garlic sauce.
  1. Serve the scallops in garlic sauce while warm and add some fresh parsley on top if you like.

Substitution of Ingredients

closeup with spanish scallops in garlic, butter and parsley sauce.

To make this garlic scallops recipe you don’t need many ingredients, just scallops, garlic, butter, and seasoning. 

The success of this recipe lies in the simplicity yet effectiveness of its flavors together, so we don’t recommend making too many changes.

You could adapt this scallop recipe using another type of seafood, due to the flavor profile shrimp is the best option.

The butter and garlic sauce is one of the best sauces for scallops, but you could also add parsley, or chopped onions to add more flavor.

The butter is key in these garlic butter scallops, if you are vegan we recommend that you use some vegan butter or margarine, although the flavor will change.

If you want to try a recipe with shrimp, make sure you try the Spanish shrimp cocktail, with a delicious taste and a crunchy texture thanks to the fresh tomatoes, peppers and onion.

Tips on Serving Spanish Scallops with Garlic

spanish scallops in a white plate with fresh lemon next to it.

This scallops recipe is to be served as a starter or as tapas. Therefore, you can serve it for lunch, dinner, or as a snack.

If you want to serve a larger quantity or make these Spanish scallops the main dish, then serve 4 to each person and serve them alongside a salad as a side dish and freshly squeezed lemon.

You can make a complete table of tapas, serving this along with other recipes with scallops or other Spanish seafood recipes such as Gambas al pil pil, Spanish clams, or Fried baby squid.

How to Store Spanish Scallops with Garlic

How to Store Spanish Scallops with Garlic. Ingredients and plastic containers in a fridge.

What makes this recipe stand out from other best scallop recipes is the way it is stored.

These Spanish scallops can last up to 3 days in the fridge and 15 days frozen in the freezer.

In both cases, before storing the Spanish scallops you have to let them come to room temperature, then put them in a covered Tupperware or bowl and you can store them.

In case you freeze them, we recommend you only cook the scallops but not make the butter sauce, otherwise, these scallop dishes will end up being very greasy.

Don’t forget that this scallops recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare, so if you can eat it right away it’s the best.

Recipe Card: Spanish Scallops with Garlic

Yield: 4

Spanish Scallops with Garlic Recipe

spanish scallops in a bowl with lemon, garlic and parsley next to it.

There are times when looking for scallop dinner ideas feels like looking for water in the desert.

Some recipes for scallops are difficult to make, others have many ingredients and the scallop is overshadowed, etc.

In this recipe, we will introduce you to Spanish scallops, a dish that is easy to make and will be ready in less than 30 minutes.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 scallops
  • 1/2 cup (100g) butter
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 5 tablespoons Oil
  • fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. Remove the scallops from the shell and separate the meat, which is the round white part, from the coral, which is the orange part. Then wash them well and dry them with absorbent paper. You can skip this step if you buy them already clean and free from the shell.
  2. Heat a pan with just a few tablespoons of oil and season the scallops
  3. Cook them for 30 seconds on each side. Set them aside.
  4. In the same pan, melt butter over low heat so that it doesn't burn. In the meantime mince the garlic cloves.
  5. Add the minced garlic to the pan and stir so that everything is integrated.
  6. Add the scallops, raise the heat to medium, and cook for 3 minutes, covering the scallops with the sauce.
  7. Serve immediately with the sauce on top and add some fresh parsley if you want.

Notes

These are some scallops with garlic sauce where the garlic already gives it enough flavor, so it is only recommended to season them with just salt and pepper.

This recipe for scallops is for a starter or tapas, where it is calculated that each person eats 2 scallops (4 servings), if it is as a main dish then it would have to be 4 per person with a side dish.

If you want to make these Spanish scallops without having to clean them, then buy them already cleaned, or the frozen ones from the supermarket that usually come without the shell and are completely cleaned.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 410Total Fat 40.5gSaturated Fat 16.8gCholesterol 81mgSodium 260mgCarbohydrates 2.2gFiber 1gSugar 0gProtein 10.5g

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