Giant scallops are seared to caramelized perfection and served with a delicious sweet and savory bacon jam. Fresh basil adds extra freshness for this quick and delicious dinner!

u10 Scallops - On a Plate with Scoop of Bacon Jam and Basil Chiffonade
When I saw some gigantic U-10 scallops at Whole Foods last weekend, I knew they were coming home with me, and I knew exactly what I was going to do with them.  Here I sear them in a super hot pan so they get a nice salty crust but are sweet and tender in the middle, then serve it with a bacon onion tomato jam and basil chiffonade.  I’ve made bacon jam with other kinds of seafood and meat, but I must say, I think it works the best with scallops. There’s just something about the scallops with the crispy salty smoky bacon and the sweet basil.  You can’t go wrong with this beautiful dish!  Here’s how to make it (and check out how HUGE these scallops are):

Start by making the bacon jam, sauteing red onion in rendered bacon fat until softened.

Sauteed Shallots in Nonstick Skillet
Pat your scallops dry and season with salt and pepper.
u10 scallops - taking up almost all of finger area of hand to show large size used in this recipe
Sear the scallops and serve with the tomato bacon jam.

u10 Scallops - On a Plate with Scoop of Bacon Jam and Basil Chiffonade

Seared U-10 Scallops with Bacon Jam and Basil

Giant scallops are seared to caramelized perfection and served with a delicious sweet and savory bacon jam. Fresh basil adds extra freshness for this quick and delicious dinner!
16
reviews

Leave a Review »

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb scallops preferably U-10
  • 6 oz bacon preferably center cut
  • 1 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped grape tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar or balsamic
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • salt and pepper
  • olive oil
  • a handful of basil leaves

Instructions 

  • Fry up the bacon over medium heat until nice and crispy. Move to a paper towel and blot the excess grease off. Add the onion to the pan, and caramelize for 10 minutes over medium heat until softened.
  • Add the chopped tomatoes, vinegar, and sugar, and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook for 10 more minutes so the tomatoes can soften and the flavors can meld together.
  • Heat up a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Pat your scallops dry with a paper towel, and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan, then sear the scallops for about 2 minutes on each side (you don’t want to overcook these beauties)!
  • Chop up the bacon and stir it into the onion tomato jam, and serve alongside the seared scallops. Chiffonade or chop the basil leaves and sprinkle over the dish, and drizzle a little bit of olive oil on the plate. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 544kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 39g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 83mg, Sodium: 1014mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 12g

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.