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Seared Scallops with Brown Butter

Tender scallops seared golden in a screaming-hot skillet, finished with nutty brown butter and a squeeze of lemon. Restaurant-quality in under 15 minutes.

Total time
12 min
Servings
2
Calories
198
Protein
22g
Seared Scallops with Brown Butter
elegantsimplefrenchscallopcrispytenderjuicydate-night

Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1

    Pat scallops dry with paper towels, pressing gently to remove all moisture.

  2. Step 2

    Heat a 10-inch stainless steel or cast iron skillet over high heat for 2 minutes until it's almost smoking.

  3. Step 3

    Add 0.5 tbsp oil to the pan, then arrange scallops in a single layer without crowding.

  4. Step 4

    Sear 90 seconds without moving—until the bottom is golden and edges are opaque.

  5. Step 5

    Flip once, sear 60 more seconds, then transfer to a plate to rest while you make the sauce.

  6. Step 6

    Reduce heat to medium, add butter to the pan, and let it foam and turn nutty brown, ~2 minutes.

  7. Step 7

    Squeeze lemon juice into the brown butter, add herbs and a pinch of fleur de sel, then pour over scallops.

Tools you’ll need

  • 10-inch stainless steel or cast iron skillet
  • paper towels
  • tongs or fish spatula
  • small plate
  • wooden spoon

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