The best marinades and glazes for your scallops
Grilling scallops can be as straightforward or as elaborate as you desire. However, if this is your first time preparing this dish, we suggest starting with a simple approach. Just dry the shucked scallops, brush them with olive oil, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper before grilling. This minimal seasoning will allow the natural briny and slightly sweet flavor of the scallops to shine through.
Once you’ve experienced the taste of scallops on their own and enjoyed it, feel free to explore various seasoning blends and marinades. A basic citrusy honey marinade is a great starting point. It’s easy to make: combine olive oil, honey, smoked paprika, citrus juice, and minced garlic in a bowl. Then, place the scallops in a bag with the marinade and let them soak in the flavors for an hour in the refrigerator. The subtle sweetness of the marinade will complement the smoky flavor from the grill beautifully.
If you’re looking for a bit of spice, consider a chili honey glaze. Simply simmer honey, low-sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and chili paste until it thickens. If the glaze becomes too thick, you can thin it out with a little water. After grilling the scallops, brush the glaze over each piece, or use it as a dipping sauce.
Setting up your grill for scallop-grilling
Like many types of seafood, scallops require careful attention while grilling to avoid overcooking or burning. The key is to create a simple two-zone fire. Set up your grill with two distinct cooking areas: a hot zone and a cooler zone. For gas grills, adjust one burner to medium-high heat (approximately 375°F to 450°F) for the hot zone, and another to medium (350°F to 375°F) for the cool zone. If you're using charcoal, simply stack about two-thirds of the coals on one side for the hot zone, leaving the remaining coals for the cooler area.
Start by searing the scallops over the direct heat of the hot zone to achieve a beautiful crust and those attractive grill marks. Once they have a lovely caramelized color, move them to the cool zone to finish cooking through.
After preparing the grill, remember to brush a layer of olive oil on the grates to prevent the scallops from sticking. That’s really all there is to it when it comes to grilling scallops. As you can see, the process is straightforward, allowing you to serve a delicious platter of buttery-smooth grilled scallops to your guests. So go ahead and give it a try — with a nice wine pairing, your gathering is sure to be unforgettable.
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