Description
Mediterranean-inspired scallop spaghetti dances with delicate seafood and crisp white wine, creating elegant harmony on your plate. Silky pasta strands intertwine with golden seared scallops, promising a restaurant-quality experience you can savor at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood:
- 1 pound scallops (medium size, about 12–14 scallops, thawed completely if frozen)
Pasta:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) spaghetti
Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup white wine
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
- 2 tablespoons capers (drained)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a medium skillet by warming butter and olive oil over medium heat until butter melts and becomes fragrant. Add minced garlic and sauté for approximately 60 seconds, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
- Pour white wine into the skillet and increase heat to boil. Allow liquid to reduce by half, concentrating the flavor profile. Incorporate heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, reducing heat to generate a gentle simmer. Stir consistently until sauce thickens, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Remove sauce from heat and fold in capers and fresh lemon juice. Season with salt according to taste preferences. Set sauce aside while preparing remaining components.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to rolling boil. Cook spaghetti until perfectly al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Drain pasta thoroughly, then immediately transfer into prepared sauce, ensuring complete coating of noodles.
- Pat scallops completely dry using paper towels to eliminate excess moisture. Heat additional olive oil in a separate large skillet until surface becomes shimmering hot, around 400°F.
- Carefully place scallops into hot skillet, maintaining space between each piece. Sear for 4 minutes on initial side until golden brown, then flip and cook additional 2-3 minutes. Scallops should feel firm with slight translucent center.
- Gently nestle seared scallops atop pasta, lightly tossing to integrate flavors. Serve immediately while ingredients remain warm and sauce maintains creamy consistency.
Notes
- Ensure scallops are patted completely dry with paper towels to achieve a golden, crispy exterior without steaming.
- Use fresh, high-quality white wine for the sauce to enhance the overall flavor profile of the dish.
- Avoid overcooking scallops by watching for a golden-brown crust and a firm texture, which typically takes 4-5 minutes total cooking time.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt and use less butter to reduce calories while maintaining a creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg