Good news for scallop lovers everywhere! The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Guide declares scallops to be a sustainable choice for seafood lovers. Prized for their tender sweetness, scallops are filter feeders that actually help keep seawater clean. Common throughout the world’s oceans, wild scallops are plentiful, but farmed scallops are ultimately a more sustainable food source.
When purchasing your scallops, check to see if they are farmed “on-bottom†or “off-bottom.†Scallops that are farmed “on-bottom†are scooped up by a heavy net called a dredge that can wreak havoc on sea floor environments. By purchasing “off-bottom†scallops, which are harvested by hand, you choose a more sustainable food source and also help provide more jobs for marine agricultural workers.
Not used to cooking scallops? It’s easy. The main thing to remember is not to overcook your scallops—too much cooking time makes these usually tender seafood morsels tough and chewy. Try this recipe for “Scallops with Mashed Potatoes and Tarragon Sauce†and see just how sweet these sustainable fruits of the deep can be.
