This a perfect Valentines Day dinner to make together. One of you does the pasta, and the other the scallops.
And if there’s only one of you - call someone you like and make it together over facetime :) Read the whole recipe all the way through first (always a good rule btw).
Serves 2
Pasta
1/3 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, more if you like it spicier
Kosher slat & fresh ground pepper to taste
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for plating
1/2 pound any kind of pasta you like, though longer noodles definitely fit better here
2 tablespoons chopped curly parsley
Add pasta to heavily salted boiling water, stir lightly to keep from sticking
About 1/2 way into the pasta cooking time, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil and garlic - you don’t want the garlic to burn, just sizzle lightly
After about 30-45 seconds, add the red pepper, stir then put in the lemon zest and juice - mix well and keep on low (btw, if making the scallops this is when you should start heating the pan, see below)
When the pasta is al dente (still a bit firm when you bite it), remove from the water with tongs and put into the pan (save about a half cup of the pasta water) then top with the parmesan
Add about 1/4 cup of the pasta water, and mix really well to coat the pasta - if you want it a bit thicker, add more cheese
Season with salt & pepper and add the parsley - mix well again and plate, finally topping with a little more Parmesan
Scallops
6 sea scallops, the large ones, out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking
Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
When you get to step 3 of the pasta, heat a skillet on medium (mostly) high, and season the scallops with salt & pepper
Add the butter and oil to the pan, and when melted add the scallops
Cook a couple minutes or until you get a good crust on the bottom, then turn over a cook another minute and a half or so
Plate with the pasta