Here’s a fresh and vibrant twist on a favored seafood. This Seared Scallops with Blood Orange Salsa recipe pairs the delicate sweetness of perfectly seared scallops with the bright and tangy flavors of blood orange salsa.
What Do Blood Oranges Taste Like
Blood oranges have a unique flavor profile that sets them apart from regular oranges. They’re known for their striking appearance with a deep red or maroon flesh and a slightly dimpled skin. In terms of taste, blood oranges typically have a sweet, citrusy flavor similar to traditional oranges, but with additional berry-like undertones.
Some describe their taste as a mix of orange and raspberry or strawberry, which adds a delightful complexity to dishes. Additionally, they often have a slightly tangy or tart edge, which balances out their sweetness nicely.
Why You Should Make Seared Scallops with Blood Orange Salsa
- Vibrant Flavor Combination: Experience the delightful contrast of sweet, succulent scallops with the bright and tangy flavors of blood orange salsa.
- Visual Appeal: Impress your guests or elevate your dinner routine with a visually stunning dish that’s as beautiful, as it is delicious.
- Unique Twist: Step away from traditional seared scallop recipes and try something new and exciting with the addition of blood orange salsa.
- Simple Yet Sophisticated: Despite its impressive appearance, this recipe is surprisingly easy to make.
- Versatile Serving Options: Enjoy these seared scallops as an elegant appetizer, or as a main course paired with your favorite side dishes.
Ingredients
Not into scallops? This vibrant blood orange salsa can be a versatile accompaniment to various proteins beyond scallops. Try spooning it over grilled chicken breasts for a burst of citrusy freshness, or serve it atop seared salmon fillets or your favorite white fish for a delightful contrast of flavors.
- Scallops: Substitute with shrimp, lobster or firm fish fillets like cod or halibut.
- Blood Oranges: Substitute with regular oranges, or a combination of oranges and cranberries for color and tartness.
- Jalapeños: Substitute with Serrano peppers, poblano peppers or crushed red pepper flakes for heat. Alternatively, omit from the salsa.
- Fresh Parsley: Substitute with cilantro or basil, for a different herb flavor profile.
How to Make Seared Scallops with Blood Orange Salsa
- Prepare Blood Orange Salsa: Dice blood oranges, remove seeds and combine with diced jalapeños, diced tomatoes, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh parsley. Mix well and set aside.
- Prepare Scallops: Pat dry scallops, season with salt and heat olive oil in a pan until shimmering.
- Sear Scallops: Carefully place scallops in the pan. Add butter and sear for 2-3 minutes, until a golden crust forms and the scallops naturally release from the pan. Flip and sear the opposite site for another 30-seconds to a minute.
- Plate and Serve: Arrange seared scallops on a plate and spoon blood orange salsa over the top. Garnish with fresh parsley and cracked black pepper. Serve immediately.
Tips for Perfectly Searing Scallops
Following these tips will help you achieve perfectly seared scallops every time!
- Use dry-packed scallops for the best results.
- Remove the foot from each scallop and pat them dry with paper towels to ensure they sear properly.
- Season the scallops with salt on all sides to enhance their flavor.
- Heat oil in a pan until it shimmers before adding the scallops.
- Place the scallops in the pan, making sure not to overcrowd it to allow for even cooking.
- Add a few pats of butter to the pan for extra flavor and to help develop a golden crust.
- Allow the scallops to sear without moving them until a crust forms on the bottom and they naturally release from the pan.
- Flip the scallops and sear on the opposite side for another 30 seconds to a minute until they are cooked to your desired doneness.
How to Serve and Store
- Serving Suggestions:
- Serve these seared scallops with blood orange salsa as an elegant appetizer. These scallop shells make for an amazing presentation.
- Alternatively, enjoy them as a main course paired with steamed rice and/or steamed vegetables for a complete and satisfying meal.
- Leftover Storage:
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days to maintain freshness.
- When ready to enjoy again, gently reheat the scallops on the stovetop.
More Scallop Recipes to Love
- Seared Scallops with Lemon Beurre Blanc
- Seared Scallops with Saffron Tomato Cream
- Creamy Lemon Butter Garlic Scallops
Seared Scallops with Blood Orange Salsa
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This Seared Scallops with Blood Orange Salsa recipe pairs the delicate sweetness of perfectly seared scallops with the bright and tangy flavors of blood orange salsa.
Ingredients
- 8–10, U10-12 dry-packed scallops
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- cracked black pepper, for garnish
For the Blood Orange Salsa:
- 3– 4 small blood oranges, peeled and diced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon diced jalapeños
- 1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the blood orange salsa. Peel the blood oranges, ensuring to remove the pith, and dice them. Remove any seeds and place the diced oranges in a bowl.
- Add in the diced jalapeños, diced tomatoes, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh parsley. Mix well and set aside.
- Next, prepare the scallops. Remove the foot and pat the scallops dry with paper towels. Season all sides of the scallops with salt.
- Heat olive oil in a pan until shimmering.
- Carefully place the scallops in the pan, making sure not to overcrowd them.
- Add butter to the pan. Sear the scallops in batches, if necessary, for about 2-3 minutes per side until they develop a golden crust.
- Flip and allow the scallops to sear for another 30-seconds to a minute on the opposite side.
- Plate the seared scallops and spoon the blood orange salsa over the top.
- Garnish with additional fresh parsley and cracked black pepper if desired.
- ENJOY!
Notes
- Use dry-packed scallops, if possible.
- Prepare the salsa first to allow the flavors to marry while preparing the scallops.
- If needed, add a touch more olive oil to the salsa.
- Blood oranges contain seeds, be sure to remove all seeds (they may be hiding in the flesh).
- Scallops can be seared in a stainless steel pan, non-stick pan or cast iron.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: Seafood
Keywords: Seared scallops, blood orange salsa, recipe, vibrant, twist, citrusy, scallop dish, gourmet, cooking, seafood, blood oranges, appetizer, main course, easy recipe, quick recipe, flavorful, tangy, sweet, savory, citrus flavors, special occasion, dinner party, elegant, visually stunning, culinary delight, refreshing, delicious, scallop recipe, gourmet cooking, simple, sophisticated, scallop dish, scallop appetizer, scallop main course, scallop recipe ideas, blood orange salsa recipe, blood orange salsa appetizer, blood orange salsa main course, blood orange salsa ideas, citrusy recipes, citrusy appetizers, citrusy main courses, gourmet appetizers, gourmet main courses, elegant appetizers, elegant main courses, seafood appetizers, seafood main courses, seafood recipes, easy appetizers, easy main courses, quick appetizers, quick main courses, appetizer ideas, main course ideas, special occasion recipes, dinner party recipes, dinner party appetizers, dinner party main courses, visually stunning recipes, visually stunning appetizers, visually stunning main courses, refreshing appetizers, refreshing main courses, delicious appetizers, delicious main courses
GET TO KNOW ME!
WELCOME! My name is Melissa Latin aka. Charlotte Fashion Plate. Happy to meet you! I am more than just recipes. I love fashion and style too! Most importantly, I love my Family (my Hubby and my Fur Babies). My Husband (aka my “Kitchen Bitch”) means the world to me. He’s pretty damn cool too. Not only is he one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, he also has had a lengthy career in professional hockey. Not only winning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the early ’90’s, but most recently winning the Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers, amongst many other accolades. If you live in Charlotte and play hockey, or have a family member who plays, be sure to contact him!
Our life has changed dramatically in the past few years with the passing of our two goldendoodles, Vegas and Viva. We were lucky enough to have Vegas for five years (totally wish it was longer). Most recently, losing our Viva to a brain tumor in July of 2020. We welcomed our mini goldendoodle 7, almost seven years ago. We just added the amazing Hazel! Of course, I am always posting tons and tons of photos! Be sure to check out my recipe for Pet Bone Broth! This broth is super rich in nutrients and will provide your pet with a multitude of health benefits!
In addition, I’m so very excited to announce I have published my first e-book and paperback, “Mastering Thanksgiving – A Guide to Perfecting Your Thanksgiving Dinner.” Your support would mean the world to me.
Let’s Get Social!
Be sure to follow me on social media! I’m always talking food, fashion, and family! I also love sharing some of my favorite Amazon Finds too. Click here to check out my Amazon page! Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Pinterest! THANK YOU!
No comment yet, add your voice below!