Sweet and Smoky Scallops Recipe

Scallops are elegant seafood. Even saying it—s-call-ops—sounds graceful. Sweet and meaty nuggets, scallops are delicious practically on their own without seasoning, so it is the wise cook that, before cooking scallops, gathers gentle but flavorful seasonings among his or her mise-en-place. My favorite, flavorful marinades for seafood are salad dressings (think white fish paired with Italian dressing), and I just discovered that I love Litehouse Sweet French Dressing as a marinade for scallops. Adding liquid smoky seasoning, salt, pepper, and Litehouse Freeze Dried Thyme, sparingly, as a garnish produces Sweet and Smoky Scallops.

For this dish, the sweetness shines from the scallops and is accented by the mild tomato flavor and a blend of lemon, onion, garlic, and light chili flavor in Litehouse Sweet French Dressing, which is gluten free.

Use fresh, large scallops but if you can’t find them, large frozen scallops are an acceptable substitute. Just pat the scallops dry with a paper towel after thawing (if the scallops are too wet, they will not absorb much of the marinade.) The marinade couldn’t be easier to prepare. Use ½ teaspoon of liquid smoky seasoning for every ounce of Litehouse Sweet French Dressing and whisk together. Marinate the scallops in the marinade for 15-20 minutes before sprinkling the scallops with a little salt, pepper, and cooking them in a hot skillet or, better yet, use a grill pan to achieve those golden stripes across the scallops.