Description
A quick, creamy, and keto-friendly dinner featuring seared scallops in a garlic butter sauce with fresh spinach. Ready in under 20 minutes, this dish is rich, flavorful, and perfect for a healthy low-carb meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) sea scallops, patted dry
- 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups (120g) fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup (120ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) fresh lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Pat scallops dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt 2 tablespoons of butter until foamy.
- Place scallops in the pan spaced out and cook without moving for 2-3 minutes until golden brown on one side. Flip gently and cook another 1-2 minutes until opaque but tender. Remove scallops and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium and add remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
- Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice mixture. Scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen browned bits and let sauce simmer and reduce for 1-2 minutes.
- Add spinach to the pan and stir gently to coat with sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes until wilted. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Return scallops to the pan, nestle them into the spinach, and spoon sauce over to warm through for about 30 seconds.
- Sprinkle chopped parsley on top and serve immediately.
Notes
[‘Pat scallops very dry to ensure a good sear and avoid steaming.’, ‘Do not overcrowd the pan; cook scallops in batches if needed.’, ‘Add garlic after removing scallops to prevent burning.’, ‘Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor.’, ‘Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.’, ‘Butter provides creaminess without heavy cream.’, ‘Optional: Use a splatter guard to reduce mess.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 recipe (approxim
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: keto, garlic butter scallops, spinach, low-carb, healthy dinner, quick recipe, seafood, keto dinner