There are some dishes that just work. Peanut butter and jelly. Birthday cake and ice cream. Cheeseburgers and fries. Well…now that I’ve got everyone salivating over junk food…
I would like to introduce another combination that is just…phenomenal.
Scallops and my Herbed Butternut Squash Mash.

Now before your eyes glaze over…allow me to just interject that this is the best meal Steven and I have eaten in a long time.
Succulent sea scallops, paired with the richest, most flavorful sweet and savory butternut squash mash! Imagine the consistency of the thickest, creamiest mashed potatoes…and then give it a touch of sweetness, and the faintest hint of herbaciousness.

You are going to be making this at least once a week…I promise.
Plus – it’s gluten free, Plaeo, Specific Carb Diet friendly and keto. And it’s downright delicious.

Hereβs What You Need:
1 lb scallops, pat dry
Old Bay seasoning
2 Tbsp EVOO
Juice 1/2 a lemon
Butternut Squash Mash:
1 butternut squash, halved and roasted
3 Tbsp EVOO
4 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 shallots, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp dried thyme
1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves (removed from the stems)
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup coconut milk
12 brussels sprouts – halved
Tools:
Baking sheet
Nonstick tinfoil
Food Processor
Good Chefβs Knife
Stock pot
Large Nonstick pan
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Carefully, cut your squash in half, from top to tail. Scoop out the seeds and reserve. Drizzle the inside flesh with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the squash halves cut-side-down on aΒ nonstick tinfoil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 60 minutes, until the skin gives easily to the touch. Let cool and then peel the skin.
Saute your shallots, carrots, celery, spices, and garlic in a stock pot. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, until the veggies soften. Then, add your cooked squash and stir to combine. Add your coconut milk, and then carefully transfer the hot squash and veggie mixture to the food processor and blend until you get a creamy mashed potatoes consistency. You will need to scrape the sides several times.
At this point, bake your brussels sprouts for 30 minutes on aΒ tinfoilΒ lined baking sheet, tossed with 2 Tbsp EVOO, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. I also like to bake the seeds from the squash on the same pan for a garnish.
To cook the scallops: you want them to be bone dry. So after you rinse them, put them on a paper towel, and dry them completely with another paper towel. Sprinkle the one side with Old Bay seasoning, pepper and drizzle with olive oil. *Old Bay has salt in the spice mixture, so you donβt need to add more.*
You want your pan to be very hot. (Stainless steel works great, here!) Add about 3-4 Tbsp Olive oil or avocado oil to a large pan. Heat until right before it starts smoking. Then starting at the β12 oβclockβ position, place your scallops (seasoning side-down) one by one clockwise around the pan, being careful not to crowd the pan. Once they are all placed in, let them sear untouched for 1:45. (Set a timer, it goes fast!) During this time, sprinkle the other side with more Old Bay seasoning.
Then, using tongs, start again at the 12 oβclock position and flip each scallop going clock wise. Let cook for another 1:30.
After a minute and 30 seconds, take them off the pan and put on a plate to rest. (Otherwise they will continue to cook on the pan.) Drizzle with the juice of 1/2 a lemon. Serve immediately.
To plate, place a mound of the butternut squash mash on the plate, top with half of your scallops. Serve the brussels sprouts alongside. Garnish with your baked squash seeds and a cute sprig of thyme.

Oh my gosh, this was SO dang delicious β Steven and I both cleaned our plates!! The acorn mash is SO OUTRAGEOUSLY GOOD! Itβs creamy and buttery, and just the perfect hint of savory sweetness.
You see thatβs the secret with this recipe: by baking the squash first, you allow the natural sugars in the squash to caramelize and develop, giving the mash this indescribable depth of flavor!

It truly tasted like mashed sweet potatoes!
Not to mention: it is an absolutely gorgeous meal! Completely worthy of a five-star-restaurant!
So do yourself a favorβ¦make this meal! It is truly out of this world!

((And hereβs one final tip for ya! Itβs the meal that keeps on giving! The leftovers are phenomenal: they go wonderfully over chicken or fish, great for dipping veggies, as a sandwich spread…even as a pasta sauce! OR – with the remaining squash/veggie mixture, I added the rest of the can of coconut milk, plus 2 cups of veggie broth, and pureed it into a butternut squash soup!! So itβs a two-for-one specialβ¦which, is my kind of meal!))

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14 responses to “Gorgeous Date Night Dinner! – Pan Seared Scallops with Herbed Butternut Squash Mash”
[…] Gorgeous Date Night Dinner! β Pan Seared Scallops with Herbed Butternut Squash Mash […]
thank you tonya for the link up! Hugs and love xox
This looks delish–and I will be giving it a try! Thank you!!
thank you Katie! this was one of our favorites! I hope you love it! Hugs and love xox
Hugs and love to you as well! π
This meal looks so delicious! The butternut squash mash sounds tasty. I want to make this one!
thank you! oh my gosh we abosolutely loved it! i hope you do! it really is quite an easy meal to whip together! π Hugs and love xox
That butternut squash mash looks and sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe — I’m definitely going to try it!
thank you Terri! it was absolutely superb! i hope you love it as much as we did! Hugs and love xox
Scallops are Bob’s favorite. This looks like a wonderful (new to me) way to prepare them. Thanks, Caralyn. I’m looking forward to trying this recipe as soon as I find good, fresh scallops in this part of Montana!
You know you are always getting me into trouble with these delicious recipes. I am also glad to hear about your upcoming nuptials. You have come a long way and in spite of it all overcome many hardships and trials. And I am so overjoyed for you. By the way—how’s your mom? Got a favor to ask. Was reading a website—I know you are busy, but you were the first person I thought about when I read it. It’s about a girl named Kim. https://malcolmsmusings.org/2023/02/27/kim/. I told the author who posted this about you. Please reach out to her she needs help and perhaps you can give her some encouragement. If God turned your life around surely He can do the same thing for her. With all My Love—Claudia. Blessings and Peace!
Oh my sweetness!!!! <3 love love love!!!!
hahah thank you so much!! π Hugs and love xox
lol welcome sis blessings