I would say that out of all categories of food, seafood is where I am least confident in the kitchen. I enjoy seafood, but I have ruined too many things by overcooking them. Given the cost of fish, shrimp, scallops, and other kinds of seafood, this is one thing I'm happy to leave to the experts.
Out of all the various seafoods, though, scallops are what I have cooked most often, and what are most likely to turn out well. Maybe scallops are more forgiving than other kinds of seafood, or maybe I just have a knack for it. Regardless, a sale on scallops always lures me in.
Image courtesy Flickr/rdpeyton
Bay scallops vs sea scallops
Some species of scallop grow in bays and other shallow coastal waters, and others live in the deep sea. The deep sea scallops tend to be larger, while bay scallops are smaller. In addition, the meat of bay scallops is more tender and sweeter.
The main difference between scallops is how you plan to cook them. Want to add scallops to a seafood stew? Choose smaller bay scallops. Looking to bake a bacon-wrapped scallop? Get the larger sea scallops, they are much easier to work with.
Image courtesy Flickr/jason nahrung
What are "diver scallops"?
Traditionally, scallops are harvested by dredging. You drag a huge net across the bottom of the ocean, pull it up, and throw out anything that's not a scallop. Not only is this practice ecologically devastating, but it results in scallops that are grittier, because the scallops inhale a lot of sand when they are dredged.
Diver scallops have been plucked from the ocean floor by SCUBA divers by hand. They are more ecologically sustainable, the scallops tend to be less gritty. On the other hand, this practice is much more labor intensive, and results in higher prices.
Image courtesy Flickr/The Marmot
Are "sea scallops" just skate wings?
There is a persistent rumor that many "sea scallops" are just skate wings which have been cut out into the right shape with a cookie cutter. This may be an urban legend. It's possible that some unscrupulous vendors are trying to pass off cut skate wings as scallops, but frankly skates aren't so plentiful, and scallops aren't so expensive, to make this a very lucrative business.
Rest assured that something labeled "sea scallop" at your local grocery store should be the shellfish. It's not code for "skate wings." If skate meat is being sold in scallop form it will be labeled "imitation scallops" (and it will probably be a pressed slurry of whitefish and binder, like imitation crabmeat).
Think you're being scammed? One way to tell the difference between scallops and skate wing is that scallop meat fibers run parallel to the axis of the cylinder (up and down). The fibers in skate meat or other fish meat would run side-to-side.
Image courtesy Flickr/Dave Lifson
What about scalloped potatoes?
This is a weird little corner of culinary terminology. The term "scalloped" originally meant "seafood creamed and served hot in the shell." I guess that is how they served scallops back in the day: covered in cream sauce.
You can serve potatoes the same way (covered in cream sauce). And this is where we get the term "scalloped potatoes." (I always thought it was because the edges of the potatoes make a scalloped pattern, but I was wrong.)
Image courtesy Flickr/Tom Ipri
Cooking scallops
Finally we get to the delicious recipes! Scallops cook very easily, usually just a few minutes. A scallop is done when it is no longer translucent. Try to avoid overcooking them if possible.
Pan seared scallops are so easy, and they make a great summertime dinner when you don't want anything too heavy - and you don't want to be slaving over a hot oven for very long.
Linguini with scallops: this is a delicious way to add scallops to a larger meal. Get the most bang for your grocery shopping buck!
Bacon-wrapped scallops are a delicious appetizer. Not super healthy, but very easy to wrap and bake.
Baked scallops are an easy way to go, especially with the smaller bay scallops. This recipe for scallops baked in a white wine butter sauce with bread crumbs looks delicious!
And since I mentioned it earlier, here's a recipe for scalloped potatoes. Delicious!
Main image courtesy Flickr/ulterior epicure
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