Sea Scallops with Angel Hair Pasta Recipe
A light and elegant dish featuring tender sea scallops sautéed with garlic, fresh herbs, and lemon, served over delicate angel hair pasta. This recipe combines simple ingredients to create a flavorful and satisfying seafood pasta perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
- Author: Leo
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing, Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Low Salt
Pasta
- 1 (16 ounce) package angel hair pasta
Scallops and Sauce
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 pounds sea scallops, rinsed and patted dry
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add angel hair pasta and cook until al dente, about 4 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Cook Scallops: Stir in sea scallops, chopped basil, and parsley. Cook until scallops are firm and opaque, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add Seasonings: Lower the heat and add fresh lemon juice, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir to combine evenly.
- Optional Cream Sauce: If desired, stir in the heavy cream to slightly thicken the sauce, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Combine Pasta and Scallops: Toss the cooked angel hair pasta into the skillet with the scallops and gently mix to coat the pasta with the sauce.
- Serve: Serve the dish hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- For best flavor, use dry-packed sea scallops rather than wet-packed ones.
- If scallops are large, you can slice them in half to ensure even cooking.
- Angel hair pasta cooks very quickly, so keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.
- The heavy cream is optional; omit for a lighter, dairy-free version.
- Fresh herbs brighten the dish, but dried herbs can be used in a pinch (use 1 teaspoon dried basil and parsley instead).
- Parmesan cheese adds richness but is optional depending on dietary preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg
Keywords: sea scallops pasta, angel hair pasta, seafood pasta recipe, quick scallop dinner, garlic butter scallops