Air Fryer Cajun Scallops

Air Fryer Cajun Scallops are a fun delicious meal that can be ready in just 20 minutes!

Here at Sizzlefish, our Wild Sea Scallops are harvested in the Mid-Atlantic harvest area off the coast of Maryland. They are dry pack scallops, meaning they are shucked and then frozen "unprocessed" (not soaked in a water and preservative solution before freezing). This ensures you get only pure, natural, wild scallops. Our scallops are large (10-20 count per lb), packed 4 scallops per package, so that each serving package is 5+ oz. Something you may not know is that wild sea scallops are a low-calorie source of protein. Sea scallops provide a surprisingly high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as important vitamins & minerals like vitamin B12 (which can help prevent anemia, depression, fatigue, and memory problems), selenium (which acts as an antioxidant), and zinc (which helps to maintain a healthy immune system and heal wounds). When you eat our scallops, think of them as a healthy indulgence.

Now let’s talk preparation! Scallops can seem intimidating, but they are actually really easy to cook and they can be prepared in a very short amount of time, as long as you follow a few simple steps. Before you start, thaw your scallops in the refrigerator overnight. When you are ready to cook your scallops, before you do anything, remove the muscle along the side. It is edible, but can be a bit tough. Next, and this is important, make sure your scallops are dried well. Simply take a paper towel and pat each scallop dry. This will ensure that you will have a nice crispy crust on the outside of your air fried scallops.

We served this dish with a couple of simple sides to keep the meal under 20 minutes. Before you prepare the scallops, make a pot of white rice, warm up a can of black beans and give a bunch of chopped kale a quick sauté. Enjoy!

Air Fryer Cajun Scallops Preparation

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb. (4 packs) Sizzlefish Scallops, thawed
• 1 TBSP Olive Oil
• 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs
• 1/2 tsp Paprika
• ¼ tsp Kosher Sea Salt
• ¼ tsp Garlic Powder
• ¼ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• ¼ tsp Onion Powder
• ¼ tsp Dried Oregano
• ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper
• ¼ tsp Dried Thyme
• Olive Oil or Avocado Oil Spray

Instructions

1. Prepare your scallops by removing the muscle along the side. Next dry each scallop with a paper towel. Set the dried scallops aside and coat with olive oil.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, paprika, salt, garlic powder, ground black pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, and dried thyme; stir well to combine. Next add the scallops to the breadcrumb mixture and stir well to coat.
3. Spray the basket of the air fryer with olive or avocado oil. Add the breaded scallops to the basket, working in batches to leave space between the scallops for air flow. Spray the scallops in the basket with the oil spray. Set the temperature of the air fryer to 400° and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the scallops are golden brown.