Pan-seared Scallops With Bacon And Spinach

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 12 mins Cook Time: 18 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 3 slices center-cut bacon
• 1 1/2 lbs jumbo sea scallops (about 12)
• 1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, divided
• 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (perhaps more!)
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 6 garlic cloves, sliced
• 12 ounces fresh baby spinach
• 4 lemon wedges (optional)

Recipe

• 1 cook bacon in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until crisp.
• 2 remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in pan; coarsely chop and set bacon aside. increase heat to high.
• 3 pat scallops dry with paper towels.
• 4 sprinkle scallops evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
• 5 add scallops to drippings in pan; cook 2 1/2 minutes on each side or until done.
• 6 transfer to a plate; keep warm.
• 7 reduce heat to medium-high & add onion and garlic to pan; sauté 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• 8 add half of spinach; cook 1 minute, stirring frequently.
• 9 add remaining half of spinach; cook 2 minutes or just until wilted, stirring frequently.
• 10 remove from heat; stir in remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper and pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
• 11 divide spinach mixture among 4 plates; top each serving evenly with crumbled bacon and 3 scallops.
• 12 serve immediately with lemon wedges, if desired.