Seafood is intimidating but so easy to make at home! Ready in less than 30 minutes this simple seafood pasta recipe is fast and easy for a healthy and delicious weeknight dinner.

Any information in the post is for general information purposes only and is NOT medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for individual medical and nutrition advice.

Seafood is intimidating to cook, but is one of my favorite food groups! I love the delicate texture and mild flavor of the scallops in this simple seafood pasta recipe. It goes so nicely with the stronger flavors of the tomato, onion, and garlic, with just enough basil to make this savory.

Although this simple seafood pasta recipe calls for scallops, I’ve used shrimp many times and it turns out just as nicely. The most important part of having a fantastic seafood dinner, is making sure the protein is cooked through without being overcooked. I have made this in the past with chewy, rubbery seafood, both scallops and shrimp. Dinner definitely loses it’s appeal when that happens! Using a clear glass lid for the pan helps me to make sure I get the scallops (or shrimp) to the desired doneness without overcooking. This is the biggest reason the directions state to place the scallops ON TOP of the sauce without stirring, so they are visible.

As with most of my recipes, you may be wondering, where’s the salt? As a dietitian, I rarely use salt in my recipes. Not only do I avoid the use of salt for health reasons, but I feel the taste of the salt masks the other flavors in my foods. There are so many delicious flavors in this dish, from the rich and buttery scallops to the savory and slightly sweet basil to the acidity and richness of the tomatoes that salt will only take away from them. While you can certainly add salt to this dish if you prefer, I would encourage you to try it first. You may be surprised at how delicious your dinner can be without any salt!

I like to pair this simple seafood pasta recipe with a nice fresh salad, and often a delicious glass of crisp white wine. A little freshly grated Parmesan cheese taste incredible on top, as well! If salad isn’t your thing, I also like this with some type of green vegetable, like asparagus or broccoli. The red tomato-based sauce looks so nice next to a beautiful green vegetable to really make your plate visually appealing.

Simple Seafood Pasta Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 box (12 oz) dry Penne Pasta
• 1 pound Sea Scallops, thawed, drained and patted dry
• 1 can (14.5 oz) Crushed Tomatoes, no salt added
• 1 bunch Green Onions
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon dried Basil
• Black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cook the pasta according to directions, drain and set aside
2. Wash and chop the green onions, and put in a medium saucepan.
3. Add the olive oil to the saucepan and cook on medium heat until onions are tender, about 7-8 minutes, stirring frequently
4. Add the garlic to the onions and cook for an additional 1 minute, stirring frequently
5. Reduce heat to low, then add the crushed tomatoes and basil. Stir well and cover. Simmer for 5-10 minutes or until the tomatoes are gently boiling.
6. Add the scallops on top of the sauce but DO NOT STIR, making sure they are not touching each other. Cover and simmer on low an additional 5-10 minutes or until the scallops are opaque throughout
7. Serve over pasta and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!

*Nutrition Information (per serving, about 4 servings per recipe)

• 445 Calories
• 5.6 g Total Fat
• 0.5 g Saturated Fat
• 26 g Protein
• 260 mg Sodium
• 76 g Total Carbohydrate
• 6.6 g Fiber

*Nutrition information is approximate and based on the products that I buy in my home. Information will vary based on the products purchased in your home.