Everything is better with bacon, and this recipe is no exception! These scallops are grilled over charcoal and cherry hardwood with a brush of alder wood smoked maple syrup, which imparts a sweet and subtle smoky flavor to the shellfish. The alder wood smoked maple syrup compliments the cherry smoke from the grill and provides just enough sweetness to not overpower the scallop.

Marshmallows of the Sea

My wife told me that scallops are the marshmallows of the sea and at first glance, they certainly look that way, but there is more to it!

Scallops are tender and delicate and can be eaten raw, although they are always better cooked or seared. On an open flame, their natural sweetness is enhanced and their flavor intensifies. If you cook them too long you will have a disappointment as they will become rubbery and chewy.

Scallops also go well with other foods but too much maple syrup or bacon and you will overpower the scallop and you will lose their flavor, just like too much chocolate on a melted marshmallow.

Is it OK to Eat Under Cooked Scallops? Can you get sick?

Sea scallops are the cleanest shellfish available. When you order scallops you are not eating the entire shellfish, you are only eating their adductor muscles.

Their adductor muscle isn’t used to filter the water so they are not susceptible to toxins and other impurities that may be found in clams or oysters. However, keep these points in mind before eating raw/under-cooked shellfish:

• Vibrio is a bacteria that thrives in warm and can infect shellfish
• Cook the shellfish to avoid getting sick
• Never eat a shellfish that doesn’t open after cooking

How to Cook Sea Scallops

Sea scallops are a special treasure of the sea. They are delicate and tender with a natural sweetness and creamy texture that melts in your mouth. If you overcook them they will become chewy and rubbery.

1. Prepare the scallop with salt and pepper and pat dry
2. Place the scallop on your hot cook surface. This can be directly on the grill, cast iron pan, a baking sheet in the oven, or a fry
3. Cook the large sea scallops for about 3-4 minutes on each side or a total of 6-8 minutes
4. Scallops are cooked once they are opaque and no longer translucent

Cooking these on the grill with some fruit hard woods allows them to soak up the smoky flavor but they can also be cooked many other ways, broiled, pan seared, grilled and even deep-fried.

How To Select Sea Scallops

Wet or dry:

Scallops get packaged and sold as either “wet packed” or “dry packed” and are referred to as ‘wet’ or ‘dry’.

Wet scallops are treated with sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) which preserves them but it also makes the scallops retain more water.

The wet scallops will not caramelize and they have less flavor. Dry scallops are preferred for a more tasty and flavorful scallop. At the market make sure your scallops are dry.

Size matters:

When selecting your sea scallops at the store always look for the larger scallops for this recipe. Bay scallops are quite a bit smaller and get overpowered by the bacon. Plus the bacon strips are too large for the small Bay scallops.

Fresh or frozen sea scallops

If you cannot find any fresh sea scallops then you can always use frozen sea scallops instead. If your scallops are frozen then first thaw them on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet. Place a sheet of parchment paper over them and set in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.

Whether you are using fresh or frozen scallops you will want to ensure that you pat them dry before cooking. The dryer they are, the more they will brown and the better the crust on the surface.

About the bacon

When selecting your bacon for this recipe you will want to look for thinly sliced bacon. If the bacon is too thick it won’t cook well over the grill and you will risk overcooking the scallop.

The goal is not to achieve overly crunchy bacon but one that is thoroughly cooked. You will also want to select smoked bacon but be cautious about getting maple-flavored bacon since we will be brushing maple syrup on the scallops and we do not want to overpower them.

How to Wrap Scallops in Bacon

These scallops were wrapped in bacon and secured with a toothpick Be sure to cut the bacon slices in half so they only wrap around the scallop one time. A double layer of bacon will overpower the delicate scallop flavor and may not cook completely.

After wrapping to the scallops, place them on a 400°F grill above a smoke pack made from cherry wood chips. Brush the alder wood smoked maple syrup onto the scallops as they cook.

After 4 minutes flip the scallops and brush the syrup on the other side and cook for another 4 minutes. The scallops will be lightly browned and the bacon will be opaque and sizzling.

How do you know when scallops are done on the grill?

Large scallops only take 3 to 4 minutes per side. If you cook them much longer then they will get rubbery. You will know they are done by their appearance and feel. They will go from a translucent color to opaque and they should have a ‘spring’ to them when you poke them with your finger.

What Goes With Scallops?

• Fresh green garden salad
• Grilled vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, or root vegetables
• Side dishes such as these cheesy air fryer potatoes

To serve these sweet smoky scallops, remove the toothpick and plate with a fresh garden salad and serve while still warm. They make a great entrée but can also be served at a tapas party or as an appetizer to accompany another dish.

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