Sautéed Scallops With Asparagus Make an Elegant Dish

By
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich is a food writer, recipe video producer, and culinary school instructor with more than 20 years of experience in the food industry.
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Updated on 02/7/23
Scallops and asparagus
Philippe Desnerck/Photolibrary/Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
559 Calories
27g Fat
23g Carbs
52g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 559
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 35%
Saturated Fat 10g 48%
Cholesterol 124mg 41%
Sodium 1706mg 74%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 9%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 52g
Vitamin C 17mg 87%
Calcium 88mg 7%
Iron 4mg 21%
Potassium 1269mg 27%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This scallops with asparagus recipe is a simple and elegant dish. It only has a few ingredients, and it’s fast and easy to prepare. Scallops and asparagus make a terrific taste combination, and the white wine butter sauce really brings them together.

Scallops have two shells and are called bivalve mollusks. The muscle that opens and closes the two shells is what is eaten. Buy the best scallops possible from a reputable fishmonger or grocer. Always smell them before handing over the cash. They should bring to mind the ocean. If they smell at all fishy, throw them back and get a new bunch. 

Scallops are extremely perishable and should be used within two days of when you buy them. It is best if you buy them the same day you are going to eat them. They need to be stored at 38 F, and if your refrigerator is not that cold you should store them in a plastic container filled with ice to bring down the temperature a bit and keep the chill on.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 pound medium asparagus, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces, tips left whole

  • 1 pound large sea scallops, trimmed if necessary

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground pepper, to taste

  • 1/3 cup dry white wine

  • 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Steps to Make It

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a heavy nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until it's hot but not smoking.

  2. Saute the asparagus, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate; keep the skillet off the heat (do not clean).

  3. Pat the scallops dry and sprinkle with pepper and salt.

  4. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet and heat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking.

  5. Saute the scallops, turning over once, until browned and just cooked through, for 4 to 6 minutes total time. Transfer scallops to another plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.

  6. Add the white wine and white wine vinegar to the skillet and boil, scraping up any browned bits until liquid is reduced by half, about 1 minute. Add any accumulated scallop juices on the plate and bring to a simmer.

  7. Turn off the heat and whisk in the butter, one piece at a time, until incorporated. Plate the scallops and asparagus, spoon the sauce over and serve immediately.

Side Dishes

With this dish, you already are set with a vegetable. Add basmati rice with cooked seasonal vegetables, polenta, or risotto, and some fresh sourdough bread and you have yourself a light, nutritious and tasty meal that's dinner-party caliber. Scallops cry out for a crisp white wine. One rule of thumb is that if you used wine for the dish, serve that to drink. If you want an upgrade or are just a rule-breaker, go for a good bottle of chardonnay, Spanish Albarino or Chablis.