Seared Scallops over Pea Pesto Linguine
Bridge the gap between surf and turf by serving up seared scallops, a dinner option that's as fresh and delicate as it is substantial and rich.
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Nutritional Bonus: Scallops pack an especially heart-healthy dose of B12, a nutrient that converts harmful body chemicals into harmless substances. In addition, scallops are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and potassium.
Ingredients
- 8 oz whole-wheat linguine or spaghetti pasta
- 2 cups fresh asparagus spears, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 12 sea scallops (about 1 lb)
- Sea salt and fresh gound black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Pea pesto
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth, divided
- 3 tbsp minced garlic (4 to 6 cloves)
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1 oz shredded Parmesan cheese (1/4 cup)
- 1 oz chopped unsalted walnuts (1/4 cup)
- Juice 1/2 lemon
- Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Preparation
- In a large pot, cook pasta according to package directions. Add asparagus to pot during the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking. Before draining pasta, reserve 1/4 cup pasta-cooking water in a small dish. Drain pasta and asparagus and return to pot.
- See the step-by-step guide “How to prepare and sear scallops” and follow steps 1 through 6.
- Prepare Pea Pesto: Reduce heat to medium. Deglaze pan by pouring 1/4 cup broth into pan and scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Add garlic to pan and saute until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add remaining 1/4 cup broth and peas to pan and saute until broth and peas are just heated, about 2 minutes.
- Transfer pea mixture, including liquid, to a mini food processor or blender. Add Parmesan, walnuts, lemon juice, salt and pepper; process until combined, scraping down sides of processor as needed. Add pesto to pot with drained pasta and asparagus; toss until evenly coated. Add 2 tbsp reserved pasta-cooking water (and additional as needed to thin sauce) and stir until desired coating and texture is achieved. Divide pasta mixture among 4 plates. Top each serving with 3 seared scallops. If desired, garnish with additional chopped walnuts and shredded Parmesan.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size 1 1/2 c linguine and 3 scallops
- Calories 395
- Carbohydrate Content 54 g
- Cholesterol Content 21 mg
- Fat Content 11 g
- Fiber Content 11 g
- Protein Content 23 g
- Saturated Fat Content 2 g
- Sodium Content 311 mg
- Sugar Content 4 g
- Monounsaturated Fat Content 0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat Content 0 g