Description
Enjoy baked scallops topped with a crunchy Parmesan breadcrumb mixture, perfect for impressing guests or a special night in. This elegant dish combines fresh scallops with a flavorful blend of breadcrumbs, garlic, and herbs, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound of fresh scallops, cleaned and patted dry
- 1 cup of breadcrumbs (preferably panko for extra crunch)
- 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup of unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil for drizzling
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Rinse the fresh scallops under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Season the scallops lightly with salt and pepper.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Add the melted butter to the breadcrumb mixture and stir until evenly coated.
- Mix in the minced garlic, chopped parsley, lemon juice, and paprika until well combined. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil.
- Arrange the seasoned scallops in a single layer in the baking dish.
- Generously spoon the breadcrumb mixture over each scallop.
- Drizzle a little olive oil over the breadcrumb topping.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the scallops are opaque and firm, and the topping is golden brown.
- For an extra crispy topping, switch the oven to broil for the last 2-3 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for a minute before serving.
- Serve hot, garnished with additional chopped parsley and lemon wedges on the side.
Notes
- Use fresh scallops for the best flavor and texture; frozen scallops can work but may lack sweetness.
- Feel free to experiment with other herbs or spices in the breadcrumb mixture, such as thyme or cayenne pepper for added heat.
- This recipe is easily scalable for larger gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes