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Wondering What to Serve with Scallops? We Have 30 Tasty Ideas

Scallops are buttery and tender and come with a restaurant price tag to match…so you’re canceling your reservation and whipping them at home. (Go, you!) Wondering which side dishes will pair best? We’ve got a few ideas—30 of them, to be exact. Since scallops are briny and sweet with a relatively subtle (read: not too fishy) flavor profile, they’ll complement everything from crunchy sweet corn to zippy citrus salads and silky roasted winter squash. Here’s what to serve with scallops for a delicious and deceptively easy dinner.

60 Go-To Seafood Recipes You Can Whip Up in No Time


1. Corn And Tomato Salad With Feta And Lime

Fresh summer corn brings out the natural sweetness of the shellfish, while the briny feta and lime juice keep things bright and fresh.

2. Green Beans With Garlicky Pistachio Vinaigrette

The secret to crisp-tender green beans is a step called blanching, which is basically just boiling for a very short amount of time. No soggy vegetables here, please and thanks.

3. Creamy Oven Polenta

Serve this creamy hands-free polenta on the side, or plop those seared scallops right on top. (Just be sure to drizzle those savory pan juices over everything, too.)

4. White Risotto With Corn, Carrots And Kale

The toppings here are totally adaptable, so you can customize this decadent dish with whatever’s in season (or in your fridge).

5. Spicy Chile Crisp

This spicy-salty-sweet combination of garlic, shallot, sugar and chiles is totally irresistible, so naturally, we think it would taste splendid atop a plate of scallops.

6. Pan-seared Scallops With Citrusy Corn Succotash

The scallops require just two minutes of cooking per side, and the zingy corn succotash tastes like summer in every bite.

7. Charred Broccoli With Sriracha Almond Butter Sauce

For a spicy complement to your rich seafood main, try this Thai-inspired number. It’s simple, but doesn’t taste like it.

8. Shredded Thai Salad With Avocado

It’s like coleslaw but fancier and prettier, with a sweet-salty sesame soy dressing.

9. Grilled Corn With Spicy Aioli

Save this one for summertime—it’s worth seeking out in-season corn on the cob.

10. Keto Instant Pot Greek Cauliflower Rice

The scallops take, like, five minutes. The side takes ten. That’s a 15-minute dinner, friends.

11. Delicata Squash Agrodolce

It’s not all salads and fresh veggies. The sweet, creamy texture of winter squash is another ideal pairing for your scallop dinner.

12. Avocado, Radish And Walnuts With Carrot-miso Dressing

We’re suckers for the contrast in texture, but if we’re being honest, this one had us at carrot-miso dressing.

13. Citrus, Fennel And Avocado Salad

You could even plop those scallops on top to make a dinner salad. (We like the sound of that.)

14. 15-minute Gazpacho With Cucumber, Red Pepper And Basil

There’s no heat (or effort) needed for this baby. The secret? Your trusty blender.

15. Julia Turshen’s Radicchio And Roasted Squash Salad

We love the combination of bitter greens and sweet scallops. Plus, you can make this the day before, refrigerate it and then bring it to room temperature before serving.

16. Joanna Gaines’s Peach Caprese Salad

Nothing against tomatoes, but peaches and mozz might be an even better duo.

17. Grilled Watermelon-feta Skewers

Fresh and easy is our new M.O. (And we’re convinced everything tastes better on a skewer.)

18. Roasted Delicata Squash Salad

Delicata is sweet like butternut, only a little nuttier and more nuanced. And since you can eat the skin, it’s so much easier to prepare.


19. 20-minute Burrata Salad With Stone Fruit And Asparagus

Whoever decided you shouldn’t serve cheese with seafood has obviously never tasted burrata.

20. Rainbow Vegetable Skewers

If it’s not grilling season, you can make these indoors. Just heat a cast-iron skillet or grill pan until it’s smoking hot.

22. One-pot, 15-minute Pasta Limone

Pasta and scallops? Sounds like a lot of effort…unless you make this lemony 15-minute dish.

23. Zesty Chargrilled Broccolini

Save the steamed broccoli for your takeout Chinese order. This side dish has four ingredients, plus salt and pepper.

25. Grilled Peach And Halloumi Salad With Lemon-pesto Dressing

If a little lemon-pesto dressing sneaks its way onto your scallops, consider yourself blessed.

26. Cold Sesame Cucumber Noodles

If you want to leave out the tofu and serve your scallops on top instead, we support your decision.

27. Yellow Tomato Gazpacho

This cold soup has a secret: It’s made with peaches to balance the acidity of the tomatoes. (Fresh basil is also blended in for good measure.)

28. Tomato Salad With Grilled Halloumi And Herbs

This salad sounds complicated, but it’s actually only five ingredients (plus salt, pepper and olive oil).


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Former Senior Food Editor

  • Headed PureWow’s food vertical
  • Contributed original reporting, recipes and food styling
  • Studied English Literature at the University of Notre Dame and Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education