Pan Seared Scallops with Cucumber Salad

These pan seared scallops are the perfect shareable dish, topped with a bright finely chopped cucumber salad, and served over whipped feta!

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A good scallop dish is one of our favorite meals, especially this time of year when it’s starting to get a little bit warmer out and seafood sounds extra delicious! These pan seared scallops are not only really easy and quick, but they’re also served over whipped feta and topped with the best cucumber salad, making this dish also extra flavorful.

The cucumber salad for this recipe is made from Poco Bites® Cocktail Cucumbers, which are packed with flavor and also the perfect size to finely chop. They’re super crisp and refreshing, making for the perfect bite with the scallops and feta!

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Why You'll Love these Pan Seared Scallops

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It's a great shareable dish. If you’re in need of an easy appetizer for a group, this scallop dish is pretty and perfect for sharing!

It’s the perfect combination of textures. Between the whipped feta, seared scallops, and crisp cucumber salad, each bite is the most delicious combination.

The ingredients are fresh and perfect for spring. This seafood dish is topped with a refreshing and bright cucumber salad, making it ideal for the warmer weather ahead!

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Ingredients for these Pan Seared Scallops with Cucumber Salad

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Speaking of ingredients, this recipe uses a relatively simple list of ingredients that are both nutritious and satisfying!

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• Feta - Whipped feta is the perfect base for the seared scallops, and is so easy to make.
• Greek yogurt - A little greek yogurt helps to ensure the whipped feta is extra smooth.
• Olive oil - The olive oil also helps to make the whipped feta smooth, is perfect for searing the scallops, and makes for the perfect cucumber salad dressing.
• Lemon juice - A little lemon juice brightens up the feta and pairs so well with the cucumber salad.
• Poco Bites® Cocktail Cucumbers - These cocktail cucumbers are crisp, refreshing, and the perfect size to finely dice for the best topping to the scallops.
• Avocado - Half of a finely diced avocado pairs so well with the crisp cucumbers!
• Red wine vinegar - Tossing the cucumber and avocado in a little red wine vinegar makes this dish extra bright and the perfect combination with the salty feta.
• Basil - The perfect addition to this spring dish!
• Dill - Pairs so well with the feta and cucumbers.
• Chives We love pairing the basil and dill with a little chives too.
• Shallot - A finely chopped shallot adds a little crunch and extra flavor to the cucumber salad, and we like to rinse it quickly once chopped to ensure the flavor isn’t overpowering.
• Crushed red pepper - Optional but adds a little kick!
• Scallops - Of course!
• Pita bread - Some toasted pita bread is the best for scooping the feta and cucumber salad.

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See recipe for quantities.

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Step by Step Instructions

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This scallop recipe is very easy, and once the feta is whipped and the cucumber salad is prepared it all comes together so quickly!

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STEP 1: Whip the feta. Add the feta, greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, and salt to a food processor. Whip until combined and smooth.

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STEP 2: Prepare the salad. In a medium bowl, combine cucumber, avocado, red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, black pepper, basil, dill, chives, shallot, and crushed red pepper.

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STEP 3: Sear the scallops. Pat the scallops dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the scallops and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden. Remove from heat.

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STEP 4: Plate the dish. Spread the whipped feta on a serving plate, then top with the scallops, then the cucumber salad. Top with additional dill and feta, and serve with toasted pita bread.

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Tips for Making these Pan Seared Scallops with Cucumber Salad

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• Make sure that the olive oil is hot before adding the scallops to the skillet as this will ensure they turn out perfectly golden!
• I recommend using the Poco Bites® Cocktail Cucumbers as they are so crisp and the perfect size for finely dicing.
• Speaking of finely dicing, we find that if you are able to chop the cucumber and avocado into very small pieces it makes for the perfect topping to the scallops!

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FAQs for these Pan Seared Scallops

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What else would this dish be served well with?

Other than pita bread, toasted sliced bread or crackers would also be great for scooping! You could also just eat this dish as-is with a fork.

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What would be a good substitute for the fresh herbs?

If you don’t have or can’t find basil, dill, and chives, any of the three would be great, or a sprinkle of dried basil or dill would also be fine if you don’t have fresh!

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Can I use a different type of cucumber?

We definitely recommend using the Poco Bites® Cocktail Cucumbers as they’re the perfect size for finely dicing and are so crisp!

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Storing and Freezing

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This recipe is best served right away.

I don't recommend freezing this recipe.