Scallop Skillet with Bacon, Edamame, Basil, and Creamy Grits

When a special occasion calls for you to “show off” your culinary skills, put this amazingly delicious dish on the menu. Guaranteed to make you shine as a chef, its outstanding tapestry of tastes and flavors is in direct contrast to the time it takes to prepare. Your dinner guests will think you spent all day in the kitchen with this one!

A treasured taste of the south in the form of creamy grits serves as the base of this seafood sensation that’s topped with seared scallops, sweet onion, juicy grape tomatoes, savory bacon, fresh red bell pepper, and crisp edamame. Brought to you by the cooking experts at Coastal Living.com, your guests will be raving for days over this recipe.

broiled lobster tails melted garlic chili butter Scallop Skillet with Bacon, Edamame, Basil, and Creamy Grits courtesy of coastalliving.com, photo by Con Poulos; styling by Deborah Wililams

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 8 minutes

Cook Time: 4 minutes

Ingredients (Creamy Grits):

  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1 cup uncooked regular grits

Directions:

  1. Bring the first 4 ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
  2. Gradually whisk in grits.
  3. Return to a boil, stirring constantly.
  4. Reduce heat; cook 15 minutes or until grits are thickened, whisking often.

Ingredients (Scallop Skillet):

  • 5 slices bacon
  • 2 pounds sea scallops
  • ¾ teaspoon salt, divided
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup chopped sweet onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1 cup shelled frozen edamame (green soybeans)
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, thinly sliced

Directions:

  1. Prepare Creamy Grits; cover and keep warm
  2. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat 9 minutes or until crisp; remove bacon, and drain on paper towels, reserving drippings in skillet. Crumble bacon, and set aside.
  3. Sprinkle scallops with ½ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Heat drippings over medium-high heat until hot. Add scallops, in 2 batches, and cook 3 minutes. Turn and cook 3 minutes. Remove scallops.
  4. Add butter to pan. Add onion and garlic; sauté, stirring often for 2 minutes. Stir in bell pepper and edamame; cook 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add wine and cook 30 seconds, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of skillet. Add bacon, remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon pepper, and tomatoes; cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until tomatoes soften. Return scallops to pan; cook 1 minute or just until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat and stir in basil. Serve over Creamy Grits.

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