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These Honey Butter Blackened Scallops with Herby Polenta are simple and delicious. Pan seared scallops tossed with spices, honey, and a touch of butter, then served over a creamy herb swirled polenta. Serve with a simple salad and you’ll have a quick and easy skillet dinner that’s full of flavor. The perfect meal to welcome in spring!
Happy first day of spring! Wow, it’s insane to me that winter has come and gone and we are already moving right into spring. I’m very excited to be slowly heading towards warmer days. With warmer, longer days comes fresher recipes, more color, and new flavors…all things I love!
That said, we still have so much snow here in Colorado, so I’ll being sharing a combo of cozy and fresh recipes. Kicking things off today with seafood! Like clockwork, spring rolls around and I’m ready for salad, seafood, and veggie filled dishes. Are you guys the same way? What foods/recipes are you looking forward to enjoying this spring?
Oh, and are you guys going on spring break? When I was a kid my family would always spend Easter in Florida, but once we made the move to Colorado, that tradition fizzled out…
But, I just got word that our family is planning a mid April vacation. Not exactly sure where to yet, but I have to say that I cannot wait. By then I will (fingers crossed) have turned everything in on the project I’m working on (that may or may not be the death of me…). So the trip will be perfect timing, and is really giving me something to look forward to!
OK. So these scallops, let me tell you all about them.
I made these scallops a couple of weeks ago, but waited to share until today. Even though the recipes feel springy, they still have a cozy element thanks to the creamy polenta. This dish has the perfect balance for this time of year when the weather is trying to be warm and bright, but has it’s dark and dreary days too.
As mentioned, this recipe is pretty simple (which is totally what we ALL need right now). I tossed the scallops with a good amount of smoky paprika, cumin, garlic and lemon. I love this combo of seasonings so much, and if you’ve been watching my Instagram stories, you know that smoked paprika is my secret ingredient when I want to add flavor to just about any dish.
These scallops are a touch smoky, a little spicy, and balanced out with some citrus. I pan seared them to give them a really nice crust, then tossed in some butter and honey to create a little sauce.
They’re the kind of flavors that really make your mouth water…
Especially when paired with a creamy polenta, which I’m now thinking all scallops should be served with. I mean, the two are such a good paring and give the dish a touch of southern flair.
For the polenta, I wanted to keep it simple, but give it a pop of freshness. Enter the herbs. It’s really no secret that I love fresh herbs, but come spring and summer months, I’m using them non-stop. Herbs can really add so much flavor and color to a dish, taking it from bland to beyond delicious.
Which is exactly what they’ve done for this polenta. Don’t get me wrong, polenta is great on its own, but it can be just a smidge on the bland side. I used a mix of fresh basil, dill, and chives, then stirred in a couple spoonfuls of Crème Fraîche to make the polenta extra creamy, and a touch indulgent too.
I’m loving serving this dish with a simple salad or roasted asparagus and artichokes to add in some spring vegetables. In the summer, I will definitely be making these scallops with burst cherry tomatoes and grilled corn. Already excited about it.
If you make these blackened scallops, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Honey Butter Blackened Scallops with Herby Polenta.
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 514 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds large scallops (about 16 scallops)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 tablespoon honey
- juice of 1 lemon
Herby Polenta
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup instant polenta
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 2 tablespoons Crème Fraîche or cream cheese
- kosher salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup fresh herbs, chopped, such as basil, parsley, cilantro, and or dill
Instructions
- 1. Pat the scallops dry. In a medium bowl, combine the scallops paprika, cumin, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. 2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the scallops and sear on both sides until browned, about 2-3 minutes. Add the butter, and honey. Cook until the butter is golden and the scallops are opaque, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the lemon juice.3. Spoon the polenta into bowls. Top with the scallops and a sprinkle of fresh herbs. Squeeze lemon juice over top. Enjoy!
Herby Polenta
- 1. In a medium saucepan bring 2 cups water and the milk to a boil over medium heat. Slowly whisk in the polenta, stirring until the polenta is soft and thick, about 5 minutes. Stir in the butter, creme fraiche, and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
YUMMY!! We eat scallops for Thanksgiving every year instead of turkey but I usually just use wine and butter sauce. I think this may replace it. Super simple to make and my only suggestion is to make sure that you lower the temperature and keep a close eye once you add the butter and honey. It can burn quickly.
Hey Sarah,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great day:) xxT
This was a nice dinner, my husband loved it! I thought the spices were a little overpowering for the scallops, but I still really enjoyed it. Tieghan, more recipes for scallops please!
Hi Jessica! Thanks so much for the input, and for trying out this recipe! xTieghan
This dish was scrumptious! My family enjoyed it very much!
Hey Melissa,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am so excited that it was enjoyed! Happy Friday! xTieghan
This was absolutely delicious! I have never prepared scallops this way, and it was a huge hit. I added some shrimp in with the scallops. Definitely a keeper! Thank you!
Hey Christine,
I am so glad you have enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week! xTieghan
This recipe was AMAZING!!!! We made it for Valentines day and were extremely pleased! Our first time ever making scallops and they came out perfectly. Also our first time making polenta! We couldn’t find instant polenta so we used a tube of polenta and it worked just as well! Great flavors. If anyone is looking for a good scallops recipe, this one is for you.
Hey Jenn,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Do you sear for 2-3 minutes on each side and THEN 3-4 more minutes with the butter and honey? Or do you sear for 2-3 on one side and then 3-4 on the other side with the butter and honey added? I want to make sure I don’t over cook!
Hey there,
You want to sear for 2-3 minutes per side, then add the butter and honey and sear 3-4 minutes. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This was delicious and so easy/quick!
Date nights are at home these days so it’s really fun to try new fancy things that come together quickly without ransacking my whole kitchen.
The polenta was particularly delicious and I’ve never seasoned my scallops that much. Was a nice variety.
Thank you so much Jessica! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Fantastic flavors! I was heavy on the fresh herbs in the polenta which worked just fine. Another great recipe, Tieghan!
Thank you so much Lee! xTieghan
This recipe was very easy to make with so much delicious flavor! My polenta seemed to get too thick & almost chunky very quickly, I only cooked it for about 3 minutes, do you have a recommendation to keep a more consistently creamy texture?
Hey Jill! To make the polenta creamy again, just thin it out with a splash of milk, cream, or even water. I like to use milk though! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I am so glad you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
This dish is awesome! We have it at least twice a month. Living in the South, I sub creamy grits for the polenta. Love the way changing up the herbs changes the flavor of the recipe. Sometimes it’s Basil & Cilantro; other times I do it with Rosemary & Sage.
That sounds amazing! Thank you Tal! xTieghan
This was the recipe I followed for my first time ever making scallops at home, and it did not disappoint! It was delicious!
Thank you so much Libby!! xTieghan
Fantastic! Easy to make, perfect flavors. No leftovers. Even picky teens asked for seconds!
Thank you so much Lejla! That is the best! xTieghan
5 Stars, Awesome!! Very simple to make and delicious. Just as good as any restaurant would prepare. Will definitely make again.
I made these for a dinner party about 3-4 weeks ago and they are on my Easter menu! Absolutely delicious! Again thanks so much for another perfect recipe.
Thank you Trish! I am so glad you loved this! xTieghan
hi tieghan!
I am making these tonight and just had a quick question – do you toss the juice of 1 lemon in before you sear the scallops or only squeeze the lemon juice over top? The recipe calls for juice of 1 lemon and in your post you mentioned adding it before hand, but the instructions don’t mention it til after they’re cooked!
Thanks in advance!
Rebecca
HI Rebecca! Add the lemon juice after the scallops have been seared. Recipe fixed! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan