A little reason to celebrate
National Baked Scallops Day
Food ยท March 12
A food day for baked scallops: tender shellfish cooked in the oven, often under buttery breadcrumbs, and how people make and enjoy them at home.
National Baked Scallops Day falls on Friday, March 12, 2027. That is 136 days away.
Baked scallops are sea scallops or bay scallops cooked in the oven, usually in a shallow dish with butter and a crumb topping. The heat turns the crumbs golden while the scallops underneath stay soft and sweet.
A scallop is a shellfish with two fan-shaped shells. The part most people eat is the adductor muscle, the round, pale piece that opens and closes the shell. Sea scallops are the larger ones, about the size of a big coin stack. Bay scallops are small and a little sweeter.
The classic version is simple. Scallops go into a buttered dish, get a scatter of breadcrumbs or crushed crackers, a little garlic, lemon and parsley, and bake until the tops brown. Some cooks add a splash of white wine or a handful of grated cheese. Others bake them right in scallop shells, which makes a tidy single serving and looks a bit like the dish is showing off.
The main trick is timing. Scallops cook quickly and turn rubbery when left too long, so recipes tend to use a hot oven and a short bake. Patting them dry first helps the topping crisp instead of steaming.
Baked scallops show up at coastal restaurants, holiday tables and plain weeknight dinners alike. They pair easily with rice, crusty bread or a green salad, and the buttery crumbs left in the bottom of the dish rarely go to waste.
Ways to celebrate
- Bake a small dish of scallops with buttery cracker crumbs and lemon.
- Try bay scallops and sea scallops side by side to compare.
- Ask a local fish counter which scallops are freshest this week.
- Share a family baked seafood recipe with a friend.
- Mop up the leftover buttery crumbs with crusty bread.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday, March 12 |
| 2027 | Friday, March 12 |
| 2028 | Sunday, March 12 |
| 2029 | Monday, March 12 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, March 12 |
Also on March 12
Categories: Food days