What to Serve with Seared Scallops? 10 BEST Side Dishes

What’s a sea product that is delicious beyond any thought? The answer is scallops.

Seared scallops, in particular, are a fantastic delicacy with subtle flavors that combine all kinds of mouth-watering tastes.

There’s just something different that seared scallops bring to the table.

And such food items deserve equally unique sides to spice things up.

Scallops, in general, are pretty light, so pairing them up with some sides is a brilliant idea.

But you wouldn’t want to overwhelm the main dish, meaning you have to be extra careful when pairing it.

So, to make things easier, here are 10 excellent side dishes to pair with seared scallops.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Seared Scallops?

Scallops pack a strong flavor on their own.

It’s buttery, slightly sweet, tender, and juicy.

This usually makes it more of a solo item in the kitchen.

But, the secret to enjoying a long-lasting and hearty scallop meal is using side dishes.

A side dish is something that harmonizes the meal.

And for a dish that’s as soft, tender, and delicate as seared scallops, the right combination of side dishes can really enhance the meal altogether.

What to Serve with Seared Scallops? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Knowing what to pair is crucial in executing the intricate taste of seared scallops.

Here are 10 sides to achieve that with:

1 – Creamy Bacon Corn

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Who doesn’t love corn? But, more than that, who doesn’t love bacon? The corn and bacon combo may sound too good of a deal.

But it’s precisely what can help level up a delicate treat such as seared scallops.

The creaminess and chunky bits of the dish help balance out the scallops without overwhelming them entirely.

Just top off your creamy corn dish with some bacon bits and serve it alongside seared scallops.

You can further dress up the entire dish with some greens to help curate a more compact taste.

Plus, this is an easy-to-make dish, making it a must-have combination if you’re looking to host a quick get-together.

2 – Peas & Beans

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Peas & beans make a legendary side dish, and in this case, the pair serves as a fantastic partner for seared scallops.

Loaded with tons of protein and flavor, beans & peas not only make the dish tastier but also healthier.

And the best part is you can use various types of peas & beans, such as white beans, sweet peas, black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, and more.

Remember, the option is endless with this one.

But make sure to incorporate an appropriate amount to produce a delicious scallops star instead of a veggie one.

3 – Pasta

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You might be thinking, how does pasta qualify as a side dish? We’re sure most of us enjoy pasta as it is.

But there’s a secret to pasta – they actually make a great side dish.

There are tons of pasta available, and it’s easy to get carried away.

So, the key is consistency.

You get that right, and you’ll have a star dish with seared scallops as the main artist and pasta as the featured artist.

Some popular pasta as side dishes includes spaghetti, linguine, vermicelli, and angel hair.

You can make some classic pasta, add some juicy scallops and top it off with some wine.

4 – Rice

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Rice is like the food version of that one cousin everyone loves.

You can mix it around with any type of food, and it goes well with ease.

So, of course, we have to mention this versatile dish.

But, there are certain type of rice that goes exceptionally well with seafood.

So, if you’re incorporating rice with seared scallops, make sure to go for those.

Once you’re set on what to use, you can make a simple dish out of scallops, oil, and rice.

And trusts us, the result will pack a powerful punch of scallops backed by the steamy aroma of rice.

5 – Fruit Salad

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You may think this is a pretty odd choice for seafood.

But, the flavor of certain fruits such as apple, orange, and pomegranate bring out the best in scallops.

Think of them as a secret booster for seared scallops.

Given their somewhat light flavor, they don’t overwhelm the main item yet helps maintain a more compact flavor.

For instance, if you’re going with a crunchy pomegranate salad, the texture and taste will further enhance the freshness of the scallop.

Another great side to pair is an orange fennel salad.

Try it, and you’ll realize the citrusy flavor is exactly what’s needed to achieve an edgy and powerful scallop meal.

Let’s just say the fruit and seafood combo is a mysterious, to-die-for item.

6 – Sautéed Mushroom & Onions

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Forget about potatoes and greens.

Those are outdated and overused.

Think bigger and better, like a couple of mushrooms and onions.

You won’t get a better savory side dish than the one these produce.

The savory kick produced by onions and mushrooms is exactly what the sweet profile of seared scallops needs.

Plus, top of the dish with some butter, and it’s a meal sent from heaven.

But you should remember to treat the mushroom the same way you’d handle scallops, with care and attention to time.

The key to getting this pair right is avoiding overcooking at all costs.

7 – Brown Butter Polenta

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If you’re a fan of grits and shrimp, this particular item is the ultimate side dish for your seared scallops.

We all know just how compatible seared scallops are with butter.

So, if you’re e looking to create a simple side dish with great flavoring, this is it.

It’s not the easiest side to make, but you can still whip them and serve the entire meal on time.

And trust us, it’s an ultimate crowd-pleaser dish.

Plus, it’s pretty simple to make for something that sounds and looks quite complex.

It makes a unique side dish and makes the perfect companion for seared scallops.

8 – Warm Tuscan Beans

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Seared scallops and Tuscan beans create an authentic flair of Mediterranean flavors.

So, if consistency is what you’re looking for in your next meal, you might want to try this combo.

Moreover, including white wine, garlic, basil, and crushed pepper with the delicious creates an incredibly strong taste profile.

Yet it still makes seared scallops the main hero.

This is already a fantastic pairing.

But if you’re looking to pull something even better, you can add garlic bread (grilled, of course).

The addition of bread sort of brings closure to the entire meal.

9 – Succotash

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We’re certain people from the south are no strangers to this dish.

Succotash is, after all, a very hearty southern dish created from corn, butter, lima beans, tomatoes, and spices.

You can stick with a variety of veggies to complete the succotash.

But don’t forget to top it off with some delicious and juicy seared scallops.

If you want some subtle meatiness to the dish, you can add small bits of bacon.

It doesn’t matter what type of additional ingredients you put into making the succotash.

But it’s always better to keep it minimal to avoid drowning the scallops in other ingredients.

10 – Seasoned Quinoa

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This is another hearty pairing you can try with seared scallops.

After all, who doesn’t love fluffy quinoa? But make sure to add some spices to get the quinoa seasoned up the right way.

This is because bland quinoa may not make the best side for a delicately flavored item like seared scallops.

But you wouldn’t want to overseason the quinoa as well.

Balance of flavor is key here.

And if you can pull that off, it’ll make one grand dish to enjoy on a lovely afternoon with a cup of green tea.

Conclusion

Whether it’s making a light snack or a main course, seared scallops will never fail to amaze.

With the right pairing, you can reinvent the idea of developing the ultimate seafood menu for any festivities.

If you’re a beginner home cook, we suggest going with a simple pan-seared scallop recipe and then pairing it with either of the 10 side dishes we have mentioned above.