Recipes for leftover scallops ranging from bacon-wrapped canaps to seafood spaghetti, garlic lemon butter to fish cakes. Today, learn about the best methods to reuse the world’s tastiest seafood.

Fresh scallops are intimidating for home chefs owing to their high price and tendency to overcook. However, if you’ve mastered pan-frying or grilling scallops, they’re fast and simple to prepare. But what happens to the leftovers?

Try these brilliant ways to repurpose leftover scallops to save money and food. Whether it’s handmade homemade fish cakes, seafood linguine, or a slow-cooked curry, all of these leftover scallop dishes demonstrate that the delectable seafood favorite has a lot of uses. Let’s get started.

Fish Cakes

While traditional fish cakes are often made with white fish or crab, sea scallops elevate them to a new level. It’s a clever way to utilize up leftover scallops that seem beaten up or shredded, as well as having a distinct texture and mouthfeel that contrasts nicely with the breadcrumb covering of the fish cakes.

To prepare these fish cakes, roughly slice scallops and combine with chopped onions, scallions, cilantro, and your favorite herbs and spices (sharp citrus like lime works great in this batter). Form the mixture into round cakes, freeze until firm, and then fry.

Make This Recipe: Thai-style fish cakes with Asian makrut lime leaves and a peanut and chili dipping sauce.

Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

Bacon-wrapped scallops make an excellent bite-sized appetizer or canap and are an excellent way to use up leftover scallops if you don’t have enough for a main dish. Even better, the taste characteristics of the two components complement each other well. The saltiness of the bacon complements the saline of the sea scallops wonderfully.

Seasonings such as olive oil, salt, pepper, and parsley will be required in addition to the scallops and bacon. Pat the scallops dry before gently pan-frying them on either side. Wrap each piece with a bacon slice and fasten with a toothpick. Season the tops before baking or broiling.

Make This Recipe: These bacon-wrapped scallops demonstrate how bacon slices and a drizzle of maple syrup can transform shellfish into a delightful appetizer for any occasion.

Seafood Pasta

If you don’t have enough scallops for a main course, combine them with spaghetti for a hearty side dish. Even when working with restricted ingredients, a superb spaghetti sauce brings out the best in the delicate, sweet taste of scallops. You may even reheat already-cooked scallops in a spaghetti sauce; just be cautious not to overcook them.

You may construct your own seafood pasta variants, but most recipes begin with a long noodle, such as spaghetti or angel hair. Boil the pasta, then combine with a pan-seared scallop, lemon, and herb sauce.

Make This Recipe: This lemon garlic seafood linguini with oil and butter seals in the flavors of the ingredients, while the garlic and shallots bring out the scallops.

Po’boy Sandwich

Nobody likes seafood like the Cajuns, which is why this New Orleans-style take on a typical sandwich is a perfect way to use up leftover scallops. This filling sandwich complements the delicate scallops without overpowering them.

Traditional poboy sandwiches are made with fried fish served on airy New Orleans French bread with melted butter and pickles (other versions include lettuce and tomato). Scallops may be deep-fried or sautéed for a lighter meal.

Try This Recipe: Lemon juice is combined with your preferred hot sauce in this simple take on a New Orleans classic to create a zesty taste that will improve this excellent seafood sandwich.

Mediterranean Scallops

Try adding a taste of the Mediterranean to typical scallop flavor combinations. Place the scallops on a bed of Mediterranean veggies for a quick one-pot supper that nevertheless seems luxurious.

In addition to the scallops, you’ll need grape tomatoes, bell peppers, and spices like olive oil, capers, garlic, and cumin. In one pan, sear the scallops while sautéing the veggies in another. When the scallops are almost done, finish them in the pan with the veggies for added flavor.

Try This Recipe: This simple meal combines Mediterranean tastes in a single dish. Cook your remaining scallops for 20 minutes over low heat with garlic, capers, and shallots for a traditional light lunch or appetizer straight from the Greek shore.

Seafood Salad

Seafood salad is a delicious way to use up any leftover scallops while getting your daily greens. The bright, fresh taste of the vegetables and the acidity of the dressing complement the gentle scallops in this meal.

One of the nicest things about this salad is that you can customize it to your liking. Aside from the scallops, you’ll need a bed of lettuce and your choice of veggies, which may be potatoes, carrots, or whatever you have on hand. Scallops go great with a herby honey mustard dressing, which is also customisable.

Make This Recipe: An simple scallop salad with a balsamic, honey, and mustard dressing for the right balance of tastes.

BBQ Spicy Skewers

If you’re tired of the same delicate, refined scallop dishes, try this meal. This sweet, spicy BBQ sauce adds a punch to the generally mild taste of scallops without overpowering them.

Aside than the scallops, you’ll need BBQ dry rub, which you can create yourself using butter, oregano, chili powder, and other spices. Place the scallops on a skewer and marinade in the seasonings. The scallops should then be grilled, basting with butter until opaque.

Make This Recipe: These grilled scallops are marinated in honey and garlic before being flash-grilled over high heat to provide a hint of char. This caramelizes the marinade’s sugars, giving your fish a wonderfully sweet finish.

Scallops with Mushrooms

Choosing a side dish is one of the most important considerations to make while making scallops. Fortunately, this meal simplifies the decision for you. Earthy mushrooms complement mild scallops, and both cook wonderfully.

Begin this dish with your preferred mushrooms (may be tinned or fresh). Sauté the mushrooms in melted butter before adding the scallops and spices like salt, pepper, and cumin. Serve this meal over rice to make it more filling.

Make This Recipe: Cook the scallops with the mushrooms before presenting them with the spinach and nutmeg sauce. Serve with steaming brown rice and a pinch of bacon for salt.

Garlic Lemon Butter

Scallops, lemon, and butter are a taste combination that always works nicely. When you’re at a loss for what to do with your scallops, this tried-and-true dish is always a safe bet. It also comes together fast, making it ideal for a weeknight supper.

To prepare the sauce for this meal, just combine melted butter, lemon juice, chopped garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Melt the butter and whisk in the other sauce ingredients. Separately sauté the scallops, then finish in the sauce for a delicate meal that comes together in minutes yet feels elegant.

Make This Recipe: These lemon butter scallops are quick to make yet packed with flavor. The sauce gives your leftover fish a deep garlic and lemon flavor and is garnished with fresh parsley for aesthetic appeal.

Indonesian Curry

Toss scallops into a curry to experience this delicate shellfish in a new manner. This aromatic, gently spicy meal is an excellent way to change up your scallop presentation and make the most of any leftovers.

Scallop curry is infinitely adaptable, but you’ll need coconut milk and spices like curry paste and chili powder in addition to the scallops. Cook the scallops in the curry sauce made from tomato, coconut milk, and broth after toasting the spices. Serve with rice or naan.

Make This Recipe: This Indonesian stew, which is traditionally prepared with white fish, may easily be adapted to utilize scallops instead. It starts with a coconut and turmeric foundation and then adds lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves for an amazingly well-rounded meal that takes just half an hour to prepare. Checkout [Easy Low-Carb Recipes] 13 Best Keto Meal Prep Ideas