This rich, buttery Scallop Piccata with Sauteed Spinach swims in a rich caper wine sauce. You will love this low calorie, low fat, super easy weekday recipe!
With all your crazy talk of healthy eating this new year, I knew I had to get on board.
And, since I’m such a hugefan of spinach (a superfood!) convincing me to jump on the health band-wagon this year was really easy. So, when I saw this recipe on the home page of My Recipes (a.k.a. Cooking Light), it was fate.
But… (and this is a BIG but!)…, convincing me to try sea scallops for only the 2nd time in my life, was not such an easy sell. Yikes…scary!
The first time I’d tried them at a restaurant? They were really fishy tasting. At that point, I was so done with sea scallops!
Yet, with the new year, I said I’d try new things. Which includes re-trying things.
And, I am sssooo glad I did! It was a world of difference.
You know the two tricks?
- Rinse them really well under cold water before cooking
- Don’t overcook them (or they’ll get rubber-y)
That way, you get rid of the fishy-ness and you’ll be left with nothing but good, high protein, low-fat and mild tasting meat.
With the mellow flavor of the scallops absorbing the rich, buttery, caper wine sauce, you will love this low calorie, low fat, super easy weekday recipe.
Just get all your ingredients at the ready. Because the last flash in the pan goes fast!
Prep your scallops with a generous dash of salt and pepper. (p.s. I cut my scallops in half horizontally – they were plump scallops!) This will also help them cook faster.
And, once everything’s done, put it all together. This is before the sauce.
A healthy, delicious meal that you don’t need to feel guilty about!
I think I’ll be re-trying many more recipes that were on the do-not-make list this year!
Enjoy!
Scallop Piccata with Sautéed Spinach
Ingredients
- 1 to 1 and 1/2 pounds sea scallops or 1 (12-ounce package frozen then thawed)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 5 teaspoons canola oil divided
- 2 teaspoons coarsely chopped garlic
- 1/2 cup vermouth or dry white wine
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 teaspoons capers
- 1 10-ounce package fresh baby spinach
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over high heat. Rinse and pat dry scallops with paper towels; then sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper. Add 1 tablespoon of canola oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add scallops; cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until browned and done. Remove from pan; keep warm.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add chopped garlic to pan and cook 10 seconds. Add vermouth, and scrape pan to loosen browned bits; cook an additional 2 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Remove from heat. Add parsley, fresh lemon juice, butter, and capers, stirring until butter melts. Pour sauce in a bowl.
- Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add spinach and sauté 30 seconds to 1 minute or until spinach almost wilts. Drizzle sauce over scallops; serve with spinach.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Cooking Light My Recipes.
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
Looks delicious! I too don’t like fishy smelling or tasting fish. I always stick to some type of white fish like mahi, amberjack, or halibut. I’ve never been brave enough to cook scallops at home. I may have to be adventurous! I love the nice sear you got on these. Pinning!!
Kristi says
You should try it Cindy – it was really mild – I was so surprised. Thank you for the pin! Have a great week!
Marcie says
This looks delicious, Kristi, and I love my spinach! I’ve only gotten into scallops recently, and this sounds like a great way to enjoy them.
Kristi says
Thank you!!! I love spinach too – and they were perfect with the scallops! Have a beautiful week!
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
Great cooking tips! I tend to overcook scallops, I’ll pay more attention to the cooking time.
Kristi says
You’ll be amazed at the difference! Have a wonderful week Daniela!
Jess says
Yum, this looks delicious! I love piccata- so I’m sure your scallop version is so tasty! 🙂
Kristi says
Thank you Jess! So glad you visited. Have a beautiful week!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
Properly cookes scallops are a wonderful meal indeed! I love how the sauce sounds, what a delicious (and healthy!) meal. I need it to be my dinner soon : )
Kristi says
Thanks Consuelo! It really is tasty!
Renee@Two in the Kitchen says
Every time I come to your blog I get hungry for dinner!! 😉 I love scallops (luckily I have never had a bad experiences with them!! I’ll keep my fingers crossed!! 🙂 I love how organized you are in the kitchen Kristi!! With all your ingredients laid out and ready in those cute bowls!! -Believe me, when I cook, my kitchen looks nothing like that!! Mine always looks like a bomb hit it!! Pinning this great recipe for sure!!
Kristi says
What a nice compliment – thank you Renee! That’s really sweet and humbles me! I’m typically not that organized, but I’m trying! Thank you so much for the pin. p.s. I doubt your kitchen looks like the bomb – I’ve seen your pictures, they are ALWAYS picture perfect – some of the most beautiful photos I’ve ever seen! Have a beautiful week!
Jen says
You’re NOT the only one whose kitchen looks like a tornado passed through it (while you were cooking)!! ?
My husband always says the same thing! Thank God I got a good one who will help clean up!
Josefine {The Smoothie Lover} says
I’m sorry to hear you had a bad experience the first time you tried scallops. They really are tasty! I love scallops 😉
This dish looks so delicious!
Kristi says
I love them now too – so I’m so glad I tried them! Thanks Josefine!
Kelly says
I love scallops but only when they don’t taste fishy too 🙂 Thanks for the great tips on preparing them and they sound so perfect with the sautéed spinach! The sauce sounds delicious too 🙂
Kristi says
Thanks Kelly – it really is good – but fishy is bad! Have a wonderful week!
amy says
Scallops are one of my favourite sea-foods, like you say they are really mild tasting and delicious, my mouth is seriously watering just looking at them. Well done for re-trying! Oysters are on my re-try list not sure i’m brave enough yet though!
Kristi says
Oh my Amy – we should totally team up and agree to each do a recipe with oysters in it. August 5th is National Oyster day. I’m afraid to try them too!!! If you’re up for the challenge, I’d be up for setting a date to blog an oyster recipe. YIKES! (I can’t believe I’m saying this!) 🙂 Seriously though! It might be fun, or a complete disaster. Either way, a great blog post. Haha! Email me if you’re interested in making a plan!
Miss Measurement says
I love scallops! And this sounds absolutely amazing. If you’re looking for some new ideas for scallops, I’ve done bacon-wrapped scallops and they’re so easy and full of flavor.
Kristi says
Oooooo! I’m totally interested in hearing more about bacon-wrapped scallops! And, I’m all about easy and full of flavor! Did you do a blog post? Give me a link in this post – I would love to try them! 🙂 And, thanks for visiting!!! Have a great week!
Amy (Savory Moments) says
This meal looks so light and delicious! I’m a huge sucker for scallops — I LOVE them! They look perfectly seared and really yummy!
Kristi says
Thanks Amy – they were really tasty! I hope you have a beautiful week!
Shelly says
I never ate seafood until 20 years ago when I moved in with my Japanese boyfriend – here’s a great tip to get rid of any fishy smell: marinate the seafood (or chicken) in sake for about 10 minutes. It gets rid of any fishy or other smells and imparts a lovely taste! We use this one, it is cheap and great for cooking! http://www.takarasake.com/Shoppingpage.php?productId=10
Kristi says
What a great tip! Thanks Shelly for the idea – I love it! Have a wonderful day! Many many thanks!
Johlene says
Good morning from Spain 🙂 I haven´t started eating healthy (yet) but I plan to.. does that count?? lol I do however run nearly every day but need to ge back to the habit where I eat healthy during the week and splurge during weekends 😉 Have a great week!! Xx
Kristi says
I love my visitors from Spain! I’ve never been there, but would love to visit Spain! I am slowly making the transition to the healthy train. It’s not difficult (some light recipes are so good), but I have to admit, it’s hard to break old habits! LOL
Juliana says
Kristi, these scallops are cooked to perfection and great paired with spinach…this is the kind of dish that I like…yum!
Have a great week 😀
Kristi says
Thank you Juliana! Such a nice comment! I hope you have a wonderful week!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
I was just reading on another blog that if you try something 8-10 times then you end up liking it! I love scallops although I haven’t had any really fishing tasting ones. They taste of the sea to me and I love their texture 😀
Kristi says
I wonder if that’s true? If so, I have a LOT of things I need to re-try (8-10 times in fact)! Hahaha! I actually loved the texture too – it reminds me somewhat of shrimp – and I love shrimp!
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Mmm. I love scallops. These look amazing with the spinach. Definitely pinning for later!
Kristi says
Thanks for the pin Melanie! I love scallops (and spinach too)! Have a beautiful week!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
This meal looks so fresh! I do like scallops and of course I love spinach so this would be the perfect meal. Thanks for sharing!
Kristi says
Thanks Ashley!
Ruby @ The Ruby Red Apron says
I love scallops but have never cooked them myself. Thanks for the tips and recipe. This sounds delicious! 🙂
Kristi says
They are super easy – they cook fast, and they are really mild! I hope you try them. Thanks Ruby!
Monica says
This looks so delicious. I have never had luck cooking scallops because I must have been buying those water-loaded ones. They never sear and turn tiny! I’ve recently found a place to get good scallops and I plan to try again soon. Sounds great with the spinach!
Kristi says
I hope you try them again – they are such a light alternative when you just want a nice, light, mild dinner! And the spinach – a fabulous addition!
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes says
Wow! Definitely gearing up to try this. The first time I had scallops it was so delicious (everything tastes better off of someone’s else plate 🙂 ) so trying them again at home would be a welcome invitation for me! This really does look great, and I also love spinach!
Kristi says
Awesome! So glad you like the recipe Jessica! I hope you get a chance to make it. If my 1st experience was as good as yours, I probably wouldn’t have waited as long.
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Love this recipe! Scallops are actually my very favorite seafood. They taste so tender and sweet to me, especially when cooked in a little butter 🙂
Pinning!
Kristi says
That sounds delish Christin – if you have a recipe on your blog – I’d love to try it! This was the 1st scallop recipe I’ve had (other than the horrible restaurant one), so I’d absolutely love to find more!!! Thank you so much for the pin!!!
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
Fantastic recipe for scallops, especially with the addition of some healthy spinach! So glad you tried scallops again – that restaurant must’ve done just a terrible job preparing them! They should be so sweet and tender – not fishy at all! Delicious – like in YOUR gorgeous recipe!!!! 😀
Kristi says
Thanks Shelley – I never knew they should be so sweet and tender, but these really were! I’m definitely trying them again!
Samina | The Cupcake Confession says
I’ve heard soooooo much about scallops but have never really ad the chance to try them! I’m not a seafood lover at all but something tells me that I will like scallops {Is it weird that I find them eerily similar to chicken? Maybe its the color??!! } And this recipe is just making me want to have scallops even more! I love spinach and this sauce sounds like the best thing ever!
Kristi says
They are really mild and sweet, so you might really like them! And, they’re low fat, you can’t beat that! I love spinach too – great minds think alike!
Cano Deleon says
Very beautiful recipe. Directions were precise and very detailed. All these ingredients to create such an unpredictable dish. I will definitely be saving this one for future reference.