Many people make seafood as part of their holiday dinners, either as an appetizer or the main course. At Bentley’s Roast Beef, we serve some of the best seafood in NH, so we know a thing or two about cooking and serving it. One of our favorite varieties of seafood is scallops because they are versatile and easy to cook.

Here are two simple and easy scallop recipes to try for your holiday dinner. We’ve got one appetizer and one main course.

Bacon Wrapped Scallops

This appetizer is always popular and so simple to make. You can just wrap bacon around the scallops and broil them, but we’ve found a recipe that includes a few more flavors. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Two pounds of large sea scallops patted dry
• One pound of sliced bacon; enough to wrap a slice around each scallop
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Preheat your broiler and grease a baking sheet. Wrap a slice of bacon around each scallop and secure it with a toothpick. Place your scallops in a single layer on the baking sheet. Next, mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Brush about half the mixture over the top of the scallops. Broil them for 10 to 15 minutes, until the bacon is crisp and the scallops are cooked through. About halfway through the cooking time, brush the remaining sauce over the scallops. Remove the scallops from the broiler, sprinkle with the parsley, and serve!

Lemon Butter Scallops

This scallop recipe is simple and light and a great addition to any holiday table. It’s also incredibly easy to make. Here are the ingredients:

• One tablespoon butter
• One pound sea scallops rinsed and patted dry
• Salt and pepper to taste

And the ingredients for the lemon butter sauce:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed is best
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

To cook the scallops, melt a tablespoon of butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Season the scallops with salt and pepper and add them to the pan in batches so you only have a single layer. Cook until the scallops are golden brown, about one to two minutes on each side. Set them aside and keep warm. Melt two tablespoons of butter and add the garlic. Cook until fragrant, stirring frequently so it doesn’t burn. Stir in the lemon juice and add salt and pepper. Serve your scallops with the lemon butter sauce and garnish with parsley. Quick, easy, and delicious!

Not in the mood to cook for yourself? Come to Bentley’s and enjoy the best seafood in NH! We have all your favorites!