Served over a bed of sautéed fresh spinach, this dish combines delicate angel hair pasta, pan-seared sea scallops and grape tomatoes with a light, white wine butter sauce.
How to Make Perfect Scallops and Pasta
The primary key to success with this recipe is timing, so be sure to have all your ingredients prepared and close at hand and then follow these 10 easy steps in order.
- Put a pot of salted water on to boil for the pasta.
- Sauté the spinach in batches and set it aside until you’re ready to plate.
- Start the sauce by sautéing a few cloves of garlic in butter, then stirring in the flour.
- Gradually add white wine and cook until thickened and smooth.
- Add the tomatoes and cook just long enough to soften them, then then transfer the mixture and wipe out the pan for cooking the scallops.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water.
- Melt some butter in your frying pan, give it a swirl, and add the scallops, one at a time in a clockwise pattern.
Tip: By adding the scallops to the pan individually, you’ll know the order in which to turn them so they cook evenly and to just the right doneness. - Once the scallops are cooked (about 3 minutes total), remove the pan from the heat and tend to the pasta.
- Reserve some of the pasta water, then drain the angel hair and combine it with the white wine butter and tomatoes, adding a little of that reserved liquid as needed.
- Finish the dish by plating individual servings of spinach and topping with a portion of angel hair and tomatoes. Add the scallops, spoon the buttery pan juices over top and enjoy!
Special note: This recipe is written for two servings. You can easily double it, but we recommend either cooking the scallops in two batches or dividing them between two separate pans.
More scallop recipes:
Here are some more scallop recipes you can add to your repertoire. And, if you want to get all our tips for making perfectly seared scallops, be sure to read through the notes on our recipe for Pan-Seared Scallops with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.
- Seared Scallops with Lemon and Garlic Pan Sauce
- Seared Scallops With Garlic-Ginger Cream Sauce
- Sicilian-Style Citrus Scallops
- Thai Sweet Chili and Orange Scallops
Scallops and Pasta with White Wine Butter
This recipe for seared scallops and pasta is an elegant, one-dish dinner that's easy to make and sure to please seafood and pasta lovers alike.
Ingredients
- 4 oz angel hair pasta
- 3/4 lb dry sea scallops, see notes below
- Vegetable oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 10 ounces fresh spinach
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 3/4 cup dry white wine, or low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions
- Put a large pot of salted water on to a boil for the angel hair.
- Arrange the scallops on a plate in a single layer and pat dry with paper towels. Brush both sides with a little oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Coat the bottom of a large frying pan with a small amount of oil and heat over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add a few handfuls of spinach and toss continually with a pair of tongs until wilted.
- Transfer the cooked spinach to a plate and repeat the process until all the spinach is cooked.
- Wipe out the pan and melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until soft and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Whisk in the flour and cook until golden, 1-1/2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the wine and cook until smooth and blended, 1 to 2 minutes more.
- Add the tomatoes and cook just long enough to soften them, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, set aside and wipe out the pan.
- Add the angel hair to the boiling water and as soon as it returns to a boil, begin cooking the scallops.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat, swirl the pan to coat and add the scallops one at a time in a clockwise pattern. Cook until lightly seared, about 1-1/2 minutes per side. Tip: Use tongs to turn the scallops in the order in which you added them to the pan and don't try to turn them too quickly or they might stick. Once properly seared, you'll find they release from the pan easily.
- As soon as the scallops are cooked, remove the pan from the heat.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the angel hair and return it to the pan. Add the sauce and tomato mixture and toss to combine, adding the reserved pasta water in small increments to help coat the pasta evenly.
- To serve, divide the spinach between 2 serving plates, top each with a portion of pasta and tomatoes, then add the scallops. Spoon the remaining pan juices over the top and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Doubling this recipe:
This recipe is written for two servings. You can easily double it, but we recommend either cooking the scallops in two batches.What are dry sea scallops?
Dry sea scallops are scallops that have not been soaked in a brine-like solution frequently used to prevent them from losing their natural moisture. If the scallops you’re buying are not clearly marked, ask your fishmonger. Only the “dry” variety will work for this recipe as you will not be able to sear the “wet” type properly.Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Scallops and Pasta with White Wine Butter
Amount per Serving
Calories
760
% Daily Value*
Fat
32
g
49
%
Saturated Fat
15
g
94
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
11
g
Cholesterol
101
mg
34
%
Sodium
790
mg
34
%
Carbohydrates
69
g
23
%
Fiber
8
g
33
%
Sugar
6
g
7
%
Protein
35
g
70
%
Trans Fat
1
g
Iron
6
mg
33
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Have you tried this recipe?Did you add your own special touch? We’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and a rating to share your thoughts with others.
Payton Ellsworth says
Hi! Can this be done with frozen scallops (not in any liquid)?
Lynne Webb says
Hi Payton,
Using frozen scallops is perfectly fine. As a matter of fact, it’s common practice for scallops (and other seafood) to be flash-frozen at very low temperatures on the boat right after they’re caught. Unless you live in an area where “day boat or diver” scallops are harvested and brought to market within a day, you are likely purchasing previously frozen scallops from your local seafood vendor anyway. Because they make such a quick and healthy meal, I keep a bag of frozen sea scallops on hand. I just take out what I need for dinner the night before and lay them out in a single layer on a plate, cover them with plastic wrap, and place them in the refrigerator. They do give off liquid as they defrost, so it’s important to blot them completely dry with paper towels before you cook them. Hope this answers your question.
laurie P mitchell says
Do u have to have the spinach? My family does not like spinach.
Lynne Webb says
Hi Laurie,
You can certainly omit the spinach and serve whatever vegetable you like on the side.
Anita Hassey says
Great recipe!! Thanks so much!
Kathy says
Thank You so much for this Yummy Dinner recipe! I made it for dinner & it was a Big Hit !
Rosemary says
This was yummy! The directions that were given really helped with the timing of the preparation! It presented like a dish from a nice restaurant.
Lynne Webb says
Hi Rosemary,
I’m pleased to hear that you enjoyed the dish and that the instructions worked out for you. Thanks for the positive feedback!