Scallops with Spinach

Tasty bay scallops are baked with pasta, spinach, and a creamy garlic and Parmesan sauce. This is an elegant but easy dish to prepare.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 26 minutes
Total Time: 46 minutes

Ingredients:

3 cloves garlic
1 1/4 pounds fresh spinach, tough stems removed and reserved
cut off and reserved
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/4 pounds bay scallops
rinsed and drained
8 each shell or small pasta
1 each al dente and drained

Instructions:

Place spinach stems in food processor with garlic; process to mince well. Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium low heat. Stir in garlic mixture and saute until spinach stems are very soft, about 8 minutes. Add heavy cream and simmer for about 5 minutes, or until reduced by half. Coarsely chop the spinach leaves in processor in batches using pulse. Add spinach leaves to cream mixture with nutmeg and pepper. Increase heat to high and cook until spinach is heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in about half of the Parmesan cheese, scallops, and pasta. Transfer to shallow baking dish and sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over top.

Bake at 425° until scallops are opaque but not overcooked, about 10 to 12 minutes. Serve immediately.

Scallops with spinach recipe serves 6.