Grill Scallops

Buttery, candy scallops have been made for grilling. They prepare dinner inside minutes, require little or no preparation, and pair completely with grilling season produce like corn, watermelon, and tomatoes. We reached out to Togue Brawn, proprietor and founding father of Downeast Dayboat for recommendations on cooking scallops on the grill, from sourcing to serving.

How to buy scallops

Sea scallops are finest for grilling as a result of they’ve a bigger floor space than bay scallops and are much less more likely to fall via the grates. All the time choose “dry” scallops versus “moist” scallops. Dry scallops haven’t been soaked in water, or worse, a chemical answer like Sodium Tripolyphosphate. Much less added moisture means the scallops have a sweeter taste and can brown or caramelize on the grill moderately than steam. “Every time potential, I at all times suggest customers attempt to buy dayboat scallops, as a result of they arrive ashore so rapidly and are much less more likely to be waterlogged,” Brawn notes.

Shade can be a great indicator. “Do not forget that scallops shouldn’t be pure white. Their pure hue ranges from a creamy blush to pale straw to vivid orange, and it modifications seasonally,” Brawn says. “Talking of scallop colour, when you discover a vivid orange scallop, contemplate your self fortunate! Fishermen name these ‘pumpkins’ or ‘butterscotches’ and so they typically pop them straight into their mouth once they discover them as a result of they’re so candy.”

put together scallops for grilling

Earlier than grilling, make sure you take away the scallop’s abductor muscle, or “foot.” That is the small flap on the aspect of the scallop that’s accountable for opening and shutting the scallop’s shell. The abductor muscle has a troublesome and chewy texture, making it disagreeable to eat, however fortunately it’s straightforward to take away. Merely pull it off and discard it. 

Subsequent, pat the scallops dry with paper towels. Eradicating any extra floor moisture will assist the scallops choose up good grill marks. Brush the scallops flippantly with clarified butter or olive oil and sprinkle with desired seasoning. 

“My favourite technique to prepare dinner scallops, and this goes for pan searing or grilling, is to wrap them in prosciutto,” says Brawn. “Bacon-wrapped scallops are scrumptious, however it’s so laborious to attain crispy bacon with out overcooking the scallops. You will get round this through the use of prosciutto. I wrap the prosciutto across the scallop edges, leaving the flat sides uncovered. And, to be trustworthy, as a lot as I like bacon, I choose the extra delicate taste and texture of prosciutto, which lets the buttery, creamy scallop taste shine via.”

grill scallops

Preheat a fuel or charcoal grill to very excessive warmth (round 550°F). To forestall the scallops from falling between the grill grates, you will have two choices. “You need to use a fish basket, when you like, however my favourite methodology is to skewer them, and consider it is advisable to use flat skewers or two spherical skewers. If you happen to use a single spherical skewer the scallops will simply rotate round if you attempt to flip them, which could be very irritating. Flat or double skewers allow you to flip them way more simply,” says Brawn, including, “And keep in mind to not transfer them: You’ll get good grill marks when you solely transfer them as soon as to flip them.” 

Cook dinner the scallops scorching and quick, about one to 2 minutes per aspect, relying on the dimensions of the scallops. Take away them from the grill when the outside, together with the perimeters, have simply turned from translucent to opaque.

What to serve with grilled scallops

Scallops pair nicely with grilled greens, summery salads like succotash, and contemporary fruit like peach salad. They’re additionally nice served over a mattress of pasta like this Spaghetti with Cherry Tomatoes Melted in Garlic Butter. Regardless of the way you serve them, scallops ought to be a summer season grilling staple.