Rather than spending hundreds on a Valentine’s Day dinner, why not cook dinner for your sweetheart?
Let’s be honest, cooking your own dinner is going to be more affordable, more personal, and more romantic than sitting in a crowded restaurant.
This week, leading up to Valentine’s Day, we’re giving you plenty of ideas to make your Valentine’s Day more personalized and special.
Let’s Eat…DINNER!
A Valentine’s Day dinner of burgers and beer doesn’t exactly scream romance, and a dinner of steak and lobster is cliched, so why not cook something a bit more creative and unexpected?
For our second Valentine’s themed dinner of the week, let’s feature one of my favs…SCALLOPS! Many people are afraid of cooking scallops, but it’s not really that difficult with two simple rules–a hot skillet with olive oil and 90 seconds per side. However, for our Valentine’s Scallop Dinner, let’s make it even easier with Butter-Poached Scallops on Spaghetti Nests.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. large sea scallops-patted dry
- 2 sticks of butter
- 1/4 c. chopped spring onions
- 2 cloves garlic-smashed & minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp course ground black pepper
- pinch of red pepper flakes
- 8 oz. spaghetti–cooked according to package and drained
- 1/4 c. shredded Parmesan Cheese-NOT the powdery, grated stuff in a can
Instructions
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. As butter is melting, add onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Once butter is completely melted, keep heat on low, but allow mixture to continue “cooking” for 5 minutes to soften and infuse the butter with flavor. Place raw scallops into heating butter and allow them to gently cook for 3-4 minutes depending on size. To check for doneness, scallops will become a more solid, opaque white and will look a bit more firm. Do not over cook. Do not allow butter to boil & bubble.
- Preheat oven to broil. On a parchment lined cookie sheet, in nonstick sprayed muffin tins, or as in my case, an oyster bed, twirl cooked (and slightly cooled) spaghetti noodles into a nest using a fork or wrapping noodles around your hand. Spoon a teaspoon of butter mixture onto each nest. Place one scallop onto each spaghetti nest and drizzle with more butter mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Broil for 3-4 minutes or just until cheese melts and toasts lightly. Gently lift nests into bowls or onto serving trays. Drizzle with more butter mixture and serve warm.
Leave a Reply