.jpg?e0c879 "Seared Scallops with Fettuccine + Kale from A Thought For Food")
.jpg?e0c879 "Whole Wheat Pasta from A Thought For Food")
Every day I learn a bit more about what makes me happy. The list changes as I go. Cooking an elaborate meal for Eric, cuddle time with Maki, a long hot shower on a winter morning. A song, a book, a walk, a nap. These are the things… the seemingly “little things” that bring me joy. As messy as life can be, these are the things that create balance and I hold onto these moments with a tight grip.
.jpg?e0c879 "Seared Scallops with Fettuccine + Kale")
Seared Scallops with Fettuccine + Kale
serves 4
Ingredients
1 bunch of kale, washed and stems removed
1 pound whole wheat fettuccine or linguini
1 pound sea scallops, rinsed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 yellow onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped
Zest of a lemon
Red pepper flakes, to taste
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
1. Slice the kale leaves thinly and set aside.
2. Put up a pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook based on the directions on the box.
3. Dry the sea scallops with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper.
4. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter on high heat. Once it begins to smoke, add the scallops and cook for approximately 3 minutes, or until it has browned on one side. Using tongs, flip the scallops and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, depending on the size of the scallops. Set them aside on a plate.
5. In the same skillet, cook the onions for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the kale and garlic cloves, season with salt and ground black pepper and cook for another 4 minutes. Toss the pasta with the kale mixture. Mix in the parsley, lemon zest and season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
6. Serve the pasta and kale with scallops on top. Grate some Parmesan cheese on top.
Tags: Fish/Pescatarian
what a beautiful recipe. scallops and kale? yeah, I can get into this!
I was waiting for this ever since I saw the picture on FB. I love scallops, have never cooked them, but love em’. Hold on to your little things, they are what really matters! xx
I love the way you have styled this, it makes me want to lick the screen!
As always, stunning photos! I definitely need more scallops in my life
Beautiful recipe – I love using kale in pasta but have never thought to do it with scallops. Gorgeous photos.
I love this.
And I agree that the little things really bring joy
I am shamed to admit that I have never cooked scallops at home, but only because my husband doesn’t like them. Maybe I need to make them just for myself!
This is beautiful, Brian. Great flavors all around!
Well friend, this would certainly make me happy! Beautiful dish.
This is my faaaaavoritest thing in.the.entire.world.and.beyond.
stunning! those scallops – swoon!
Oh I love this recipe so much. I never order scallops because they are never right at the restaurants I go to. I think I want to try them at home!
Such a beautiful recipe. Those scallops look perfectly seared. Scallops are luxury to me, so I only really cook them every few months. I know which recipe I’m going to make next
Seared scallops and a dish like this would most definitely make me happy. There is so much in life to get us down – if we let it or not – that we must continually search for those things, no matter how little, that give us comfort, bring us joy and fill our lives with happiness. xo
Those scallops look perfect!
My go to restaurant order if its on the menu, but so much better when made at home. I’m really like your addition of kale, a color boost and extra vitamins. Beautiful photographs.
MMmnnnn. . . I LOVES me some scallops and Kale.
Da me mas gastropoda!
yeah yeah, I know – a scallop isn’t a gastropod, but “mollusca” doesn’t work. . .
Woah! This photography is outstanding! and ps. I agree on the joy of that hot morning shower. I usually write little pieces of poetry on the glass door to. Magical.
I’ll be back here soon!
Thank you for all your love and gorgeous recipes!
Absolutely gorgeous. I love scallops so much. I would have to say they are at the top of my list for favorite type of sea food. I absolutely drool at their peculiar sweetness that they have and they go so well with just about any dish. Well done with this recipe and amazing photography as always.
yes please! My two favorites: kale and scallops!
So gorgeous, oh how I wish this was tonight’s dinner!
scallops, scallops, scallops… and then you add pasta, kale and a dose of happiness – that makes for a pretty fantastic Monday, yes indeedy it does.
Thank you such a lovely recipe! I made it tonight and it was awesome
This is exactly the kind of pasta dish that I can eat all the time and not tire of. Your scallops look perfect!
I am not a big scallop fan; but, you have me drawn to this year. I loved how perfectly seared they are! Adding this to our must make soon list!
I love how the older we get, the simpler the things that make us happy become. Pasta makes me happy. Scallops make me even happier. Add the kale, and this is my kind of dish. Beautiful!
It’s the little things that make life so wonderful!
Those scallops look so fat and juicy – delicious.
I love the simplicity of your words. It’s great to know that you know what makes you happy and can share it. It inspires me (and I’m sure many others)to take a closer look at my life and what makes me happy as well.
On a side note; this pasta and scallops would make me VERY happy right about now
I big hearty bowl of pasta definitely makes me feel more balanced! This is gorgeous!
I need to learn to focus on the little things too. Easier said than done, right? Beautiful dish!
Am I the first reader to make this recipe? If so, I want a gold star, which I’ll share with you, Brian. This dish is fabulous – simple to prepare, quick to throw together (even on a rainy weekday night like right now), and incredibly tasty. I’m not a kale fan, so when I say this is good, you better believe it appeals to even those who scoff or dread that “aren’t we healthy” kale stuff that over powers other recipes. Here the thin strips of kale work with the other ingredients instead of overwhelming them. And the red pepper flakes are a definite must!!! Hint – to get the kale strips really thin, pile a bunch of kale leaves on top of each other, roll them into a tight, thin cigarette-looking cylinder and then slice the cylinder into narrow circles that unravel into incredibly pretty kale strips.
PS – I cheated and used “white” linguini – still felt healthy, on account of the scallops, kale and grated cheese.
I just LOVE everything about this and am really wishing I had a bowl full right now.
I love how crusty those scallops look + hearty kale greens = yum!!
You had me at seared scallops!
Bet they would be great with some gluten-free pasta too! Or you could do them on top of garlicky mashed potatoes!
You are so sweet! Thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comment. Also, I wish I had a glass door in our shower so that I could write poetry on it. That’s so wonderful!
I love how you began this post…isn’t that what life is all about? Gradually discovering who we are and what makes us happy? I know for certain that you, and your blog, are on my list. And I have no doubt that these scallops with pasta would bring a smile to my face too. You are so talented, my dear friend. And I hope you hear that every single day. Hugs and love from Colorado. You and Eric now need to come visit us in the mountains
Hmmm…your list of “little things” is a great one. I think I need to come up with my own list. It would overlap with yours and would add having a moment to pay attention to the weather. Nothing quite like noticing that the wind is blowing and that I’ve been lost listening to it for a moment. Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing those juicy scallops!
Holy moly – you had me at “seared scallops”…! This looks like a plate of my version of heaven. And I SO agree with you abotu little moments. People are always waiting for the new job, new relationship, Lottery win or whatever to start being happy – what they don’t see is that happiness is made up of small daily moments of the very personal things that make us each happy. A bath with scented candles; my warmest fluffy angora socks to slip into after work; singing along to a favourite song at the top of my voice… that’s happiness
Brian, this is one beautiful looking dish. I always crave pasta and have had an affection for seared scallops since the first time I tried them. And the mrs. will surely love this as well. Locked and ready for a perfect date night meal. Thanks!
That long hot shower on a winter morning is a must. And so is a plate of this. This presentation is just perfect.
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I absolutely adore scallops. And you’ve captured them perfectly with these lovely shots. Now I’m very, very much craving scallops.
This looks absolutely scrumptious! I’m adding this to my list immediately… I’m always nervous about cooking scallops…like I won’t do it right or will under/over cook them… this looks totally doable but impressive!
Gorgeous photos, Brian. You reminded me that it’s been a while since we had scallops around here. That definitely needs to change.
A little too lemon tasting for us, would cut back on the zest for sure.
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Carole’s Chatter is collecting scallop dishes today. This is a nice one. I do hope you pop over and link in. This is the link . Cheers