• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cook Well, Eat Well
  • Shop
  • Meet Shinee
  • Contact
Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube

Sweet & Savory

Cook Well, Eat Well

  • New? Start Here
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
      • Dips
      • Meat-lovers
    • Desserts
      • Bars & Brownies
      • Cakes
      • Cheesecakes
      • French Macarons
      • Pastries
      • Pies
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Salads
    • Seasonal
      • Summer Favorites
      • Easter
      • Christmas
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Game Day
      • Halloween
      • New Year’s Eve
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine’s Day
  • Valentine’s Day
  • Discover
    • Ingredients
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • Baking Basics
    • Cooking Basics
    • Advanced Techniques
    • How-To’s
  • Share
    • Seasonal
    • Party Planning 101
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube
    Subscribe To Updates
Home » RECIPE » Appetizers » Seared Scallops with Honey Dijon Avocado Sauce

Seared Scallops with Honey Dijon Avocado Sauce

Skip to Recipe Print Share
Share on:
By: Shinee Published: 5/12/2014Updated: 1/07/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

Sharing is caring!

7395 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Velvety smooth scallops with beautifully caramelized crust and topped with honey dijon avocado sauce are simple, yet elegant appetizer.

Did you know that it takes only about 5 minutes to perfectly sear the scallops ? In this post, I’m sharing some great tips on how to pan sear the scallops.

Velvety smooth scallops with beautifully caramelized crust and topped with honey dijon avocado sauce are simple, yet elegant appetizer.

As I mentioned last week, I’m participating in Saucy Mama’s 2014 Recipe Contest using one of their delicious sauces. Although each and every one of 6 sauces was delicious in their own unique way, Honey Dijon dressing has been my absolute favorite.

Sweet, tangy and slightly spicy, this honey Dijon dressing is versatile enough to use in wide variety of recipes from marinating chicken and seafood to dressing your favorite salad to creating a new sauce. I actually created 2 different recipes with this dressing last week. Since my honey dijon chicken salad didn’t fall under any of the categories of the contest, I’m entering the contest with this seared scallop with honey Dijon avocado sauce recipe. No worries, I will be sharing my chicken salad recipe next week. 🙂

Velvety smooth scallops with beautifully caramelized crust and topped with honey dijon avocado sauce are simple, yet elegant appetizer.

I’m all about easy recipes for fancy and flavorful dishes. And today I’m sharing just that.

In this recipe, a few sea scallops, avocado and honey dijon dressing come together to create velvety smooth scallops with beautifully caramelized crust and topped with honey dijon avocado sauce. No long list of ingredients to hunt for, just three main ingredients and you’re all set!

You’ll start with washing the scallops under cold water and removing the side muscle, if needed. To achieve perfect caramelized crust, you need to thoroughly dry the scallops with paper towel. If the scallops are not dried enough, instead of searing they will simply steam. So, make sure to dry them good.

Keep on reading for more tips to perfectly seared scallops.

Velvety smooth scallops with beautifully caramelized crust and topped with honey dijon avocado sauce are simple, yet elegant appetizer.

When you’re ready to sear the scallops, heat the olive oil and butter in the pan over high heat. You really want sizzling hot skillet here for optimum caramelization. Add scallops about inch or two apart from each other. If you overcrowd the pan, the scallops will start steaming instead of searing.

I highly recommend using stainless steel, or cast iron pans here. Non-stick pans are not ideal for searing.

Overcooked scallops are rubbery and chewy, and no one wants that. Not trying to scare you off, but just giving you heads up that it’s a matter of seconds to get from perfectly cooked to overcooked. Keep in mind, it’ll take maximum 3 minutes per side.

Velvety smooth scallops with beautifully caramelized crust and topped with honey dijon avocado sauce are simple, yet elegant appetizer.

You’ll be proud to serve such restaurant-quality, impressive appetizer at any party without slaving in the kitchen for hours. Enjoy!

Seared Scallops with Honey Dijon Avocado Sauce

Velvety smooth scallops with beautifully caramelized crust and topped with honey dijon avocado sauce are simple, yet elegant appetizer.
5 from 3 votes
serves: 2 -3 servings
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total : 35 minutes
Print
Leave a Review

Ingredients

For scallops:

  • 6 sea scallops
  • 1/3 cup Honey Dijon Dressing I used Saucy Mama’s dressing here
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

For honey dijon avocado sauce:

  • ½ avocado
  • 2 teaspoons Saucy Mama’s Honey Dijon Dressing
  • Pinch of salt
Note: I test all my recipes with both measurements for the most precise and accurate result!

Instructions

  • Wash the sea scallops under cold water.
  • Thoroughly dry them with paper towel.
  • Pour Honey Dijon Dressing over dried scallops.
  • Toss to coat the scallops evenly. Let it marinate for 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, make the avocado sauce. In a small bowl, mash the avocado with a fork.
  • Add honey dijon dressing and mix well. Salt to taste.
  • Cover the sauce with plastic wrap, so that it touches the avocado sauce to prevent browning. Set aside.
  • To cook the scallops, heat butter and olive oil in 12-inch pan (don’t use non-stick pan) over medium-high heat.
  • Remove the scallops from a marinade and salt and pepper them.
  • Add the scallops into sizzling hot pan, making sure the scallops don’t touch each other.
  • Sear the scallops for about 2 minutes without disruption until golden crust forms. If the scallops are stuck to the pan, that means they are not ready to be flipped. Don’t force it.
  • Using a tong, flip the scallops and cook the other side for another 2 minutes. The center of the scallops should be slightly translucent. Overcooking will result in chewy, rubbery scallops that no one would care for.
  • Transfer the cooked scallops onto a plate and top with avocado sauce. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 317kcal (16%) Carbohydrates: 24g (8%) Protein: 7g (14%) Fat: 20g (31%) Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g Monounsaturated Fat: 12g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 26mg (9%) Sodium: 704mg (31%) Potassium: 341mg (10%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 10g (11%) Vitamin A: 251IU (5%) Vitamin C: 5mg (6%) Calcium: 12mg (1%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Author: Shinee
Course:Appetizer
Cuisine:American
Did you make this?Show me your creation! Tag me @shineshka and hashtag it #sweetandsavorybyshinee!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

*Disclaimer: Barhyte Specialty Foods provided a set of Saucy Mama’s condiments for free to participate in Saucy Mama’s 2014 Recipe Contest. All opinions are my own.

Related Recipes

  • Homemade Honey Dijon Dressing
  • 3 seared scallops over a bed of spaghetti and garnished with lime wedges.
    Tequila Lime Seared Scallops Pasta
  • Honey Sesame Salmon Kebabs
  • Honey Almond Crepes

Never Miss a Recipe!

Subscribe and receive my FREE Portion Planning Cheat Sheet for Cocktail and Dinner Parties.

Previous Post
Pineapple Coconut Spritzer
Next Post
Banana Nutella Wontons

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Made this? Rate this recipe:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Steve M. says

    Posted on 1 October 2022 at 2:45 pm

    Hello. I looked in the website provided (and other sites too) and don’t see that this dressing is still available. The mustard and other dressings, yes, but not this particular dressing. I am not locating your alternative dressing recipe. I am excited about trying this recipe. Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Rachel says

    Posted on 3 August 2022 at 2:51 pm

    here’s a dressing recipe to make your own 🙂 easy peasy
    https://erhardtseat.com/honey-dijon-vinaigrette/

    Reply
  3. Rachel says

    Posted on 3 August 2022 at 2:07 pm

    About to cook this but just a suggestion, perhaps include how to make your own dressing as I don’t buy pre-made stuff, they always add sugar and additives … so apple cider vinegar, honey and dijon for the dressing, and I’ll see how it turns out 🙂

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 8 August 2022 at 11:31 am

      Hi, Rachel. Thank you SO much for your feedback. I do have homemade honey dijon dressing recipe, which I developed after this recipe was posted. I’ll add the link to the homemade recipe. Your comment was very helpful, and I really appreciate it!

      Reply
  4. Lisa says

    Posted on 24 November 2021 at 2:31 pm

    5 stars
    I have made this multiple times, and everyone enjoys it! Thanks

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 28 November 2021 at 4:31 pm

      Thank you, Lisa, for your feedback! So glad you all enjoy it!

      Reply
  5. Lisa says

    Posted on 4 October 2021 at 4:29 pm

    If you need to dry the scallops so they don’t steam will you need to dry the bottoms after marinating? Trying the recipe on Wednesday as it looks yummy.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 4 October 2021 at 9:27 pm

      Hi, Lisa! Great question! Since the dressing is oil based, you don’t need to dry the scallops after marinating. It won’t cause steam. Hope you’ll enjoy! And please let us know how you like them, if you give it a try.

      Reply
  6. Barbara says

    Posted on 5 March 2021 at 10:27 am

    Seriously, bottled salad dressing to make another dressing. I don’t buy any bottled sauces if I don’t need to and certainly you can make the honey mustard dressing from scratch.
    Looking elsewhere for ideas.

    Reply
  7. Russell Litten says

    Posted on 5 October 2020 at 4:39 pm

    5 stars
    Outstanding. I used Whole avocado only 3 table spoons of honey Dijon dressing. Served on top of scoops of mashed sweet potatoes.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 6 October 2020 at 3:20 pm

      So glad you tried and love the recipe. Thank you for your feedback and sharing your tweaks, Russell!

      Reply
  8. Patti says

    Posted on 18 July 2017 at 10:13 am

    Do you have a suggestion for a side for this recipe? It sure sounds amazing!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 18 July 2017 at 10:10 pm

      Hi, Patti. My favorite side for seared scallops is risotto. But I think creamy or pesto pasta is good too. Let me know if you give it a try.

      Reply
  9. christine davis says

    Posted on 2 April 2016 at 9:31 am

    how many does this serve?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 2 April 2016 at 7:45 pm

      Hi, Christine. I’d say 2 servings as a main dish with side dish.

      Reply
  10. Susan says

    Posted on 18 September 2015 at 1:15 pm

    If you can’t find the Mamas sauce how can you make it ?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 18 September 2015 at 2:58 pm

      Hmm, that’s a tough one, Susan. I have yet to find a substitute for this honey dijon dressing. It’s seriously my favorite. If you really want to make this flavor, I’d suggest to buy this dressing on their website, http://barhyte.com/honey-dijon-dressing/. That’s how I get mine.

      Reply
  11. Regina Presnal says

    Posted on 7 April 2015 at 9:42 pm

    How far in advance can the sauce be made? Do you need to take any precautions to prevent the sauce from browning due to the avocado?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 7 April 2015 at 10:05 pm

      Make the sauce right before serving. To minimize the browning, cover the sauce with plastic wrap so it touches the surface of the avocado sauce. The surface will still brown a bit, but it’ll be fine once you stir it. Hope this helps.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Shinee! I’m so happy you’re here! I believe anyone can cook restaurant-quality food at home! And my goal is to help you to become a confident cook with my easy-to-follow recipes with lots of tips and step-by-step photos.

New? Start Here

Browse Specialties

Main Dishes Side Dishes Appetizers Salads Breads & Pastries Cakes Macarons Drinks Browse All
Portion Planning 101
Free Dinner Party Cheat Sheet
Download Now

Popular Recipes

Yellow and white macarons.

French Macarons for Beginners

Best Prime Rib Roast (Bone-In)

This is the simplest and moistest banana bread - easy to make and yields 2 breads! #bananabread

Best Moist Banana Bread Recipe

A plate full of chocolate chip cookies.

Egg Yolk Cookies

How to Make Homemade Pistachio Paste

sliced plain sponge cake layers

Easy Sponge Cake (3 Ingredient Cake)

Valentine's Day Desserts

Pistachio Macarons in a box

Pistachio Macarons

Supreme Chocolate Cheesecake

Supreme Chocolate Cake

Mini strawberry pavlovas on a baking sheet.

Strawberry Mini Pavlova

Pistachio Eclairs

Raspberry lemon tartlets arranged on a rectangular serving platter.

Raspberry Lemon Tartlets

Game Day Eats

Cooked bacon jalapeno poppers on a baking sheet.

finger food:

3-Ingredient Jalapeno Poppers

meat:

Beer BBQ Meatballs

Bean dip in a casserole dish with a portion being scooped with a chip.

dip:

3-Ingredient Bean Dip

appetizer:

Bacon Wrapped Cheesy Crackers

sandwich:

Philly Cheese Steak Sliders

dessert:

5-Ingredient Pineapple Cake

Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube

Never Miss A Recipe

Subscribe and receive my FREE Portion Planning Cheat!

  • Discover
    • Recipe Index
    • Tools & Gadgets
    • Ingredients
  • Learn
    • Baking Basics
    • Cooking Basics
    • Advanced Techniques
  • Share
    • Holidays
    • Appetizers
    • Party Planning 101
  • Back To Top
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
© 2013-2023 Sweet & Savory Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Exclusive member of Mediavine Food
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe and Receive My FREE Portion Planning Cheat!