This sea scallops carpaccio with lime makes a simple and elegant first course for a festive dinner party. Full of freshness and zesty flavors, this refined seafood dish takes only a few minutes to assemble.
Scallop carpaccio is the perfect refined dish for the holidays, Valentine’s Day or any other festive dinner party. The soft and tender raw scallops – sashimi like – are overly delicious and each bite literally melts in your mouth.
Now the best part is the recipe itself. It’s ridiculously easy to make and assemble sea scallops carpaccio, and it will only take you a few minutes. If you’ve ever doubt your cooking skills, now it’s time to show off!
What is scallop carpaccio?
A sea scallop carpaccio features thin slices of raw scallops, marinated in a simple lime and olive oil marinade. The acidity from the limes “cook” the sea scallops and make them incredibly soft and tender.
Why you’ll love this scallop carpaccio
- Simple, elegant and festive seafood first course
- Full of fresh and zesty flavors
- Incredibly easy to make and assemble
How to choose and slice scallops?
Because sea scallops are eaten raw (even if marinated), it is very important to choose them as fresh as possible. Do not consider frozen scallops for this recipe.
Also, you want to choose large scallops (not the small ones), as you will then need to slice them. To help you in this process, I recommend you flash-freeze the scallops for a few minutes, and then slice them lengthwise in thin slices, using a large sharp knife.
It’s all about the seasoning!
When making a scallop carpaccio, seasoning is key. It’s what brings up all the flavors to the dish, so you want to make it right. It all starts with a marinade consisting of lime juice, lime zest and olive oil, for some very refreshing flavors. The acidity from the lime also “cooks” the scallops and make them extra tender. I then recommend good peppercorns, and if possible black Timut pepper for its unique strong, citrusy notes that is reminiscent of grapefruit. If you don’t have Timut pepper, Sichuan pepper is also a great option. Do not forget the pink pepperocorn, and some sea salt to enhance all the flavors.
What to serve with scallop carpaccio?
Scallop carpaccio is a delicate and subtle starter that does not need much. I usually recommend to serve as is, with a glass of sparkling wine. But you can also pair with a few fresh exotic fruits, such as mango or passion fruit. A few slices of avocado could do too, but always go light to keep the scallops the star of the show.
You may also like:
- Seared Scallops with Vanilla Sauce and Fresh Mango
- Pan Seared Scallops with Orange-Ginger Sauce
- Salmon and Cod Duo in a Creamy Shallot Sauce
- Swedish Seafood Casserole with Saffron
What’s for dessert?
Maybe that’s just me, but I like to end up a fancy seafood dinner with a nice dessert too! Here are some options that work pretty well, in my opinion:
Sea Scallop Carpaccio with Lime
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Mains
This sea scallops carpaccio with lime makes a simple and elegant first course for a festive dinner party. Full of freshness and zesty flavors, this refined seafood dish takes only a few minutes to assemble.
Ingredients
- 16 large sea scallops
- ½ lime, juice + zest
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- Sea salt
- Black Timut pepper, freshly ground
- Pink peppercorn, freshly ground
- A few sprigs of chives (optional)
- A few pomegranate seeds, to decorate (optional)
Instructions
- Wash the scallops, pat dry on paper towel and place for 15 minutes in the freezer to harden them a little.
- Using a sharp knife, slice each scallop crosswise into very thin slices, and distribute slices among four plates, laying them flat in a circular pattern.
- Drizzle lime juice all over, sprinkle with sea salt, Timut pepper and pink peppercorn, then drizzle with olive oil. Garnish with lime zest, a few sprigs of chives, pomegranate seeds and serve immediately.
Did you make this recipe?
Lastly, if you make this Sea Scallop Carpaccio with Lime, be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Thank you and enjoy!
