Delectable Duo Delight—Dinner for 2

Delectable Duo Delight is a romantic dinner for two, combining French and Italian flavors. Enjoy succulent pan-seared scallops atop creamy risotto, accompanied by a delicate white wine sauce. Finish with a side of garlicky green beans for an easy yet elegant dining experience.

Meal Type

Dinner

Cuisine

French Italian Fusion

Servings

2

Food Stars

Health

Variations

Diets

Variations

You Need This Stuff

  • 8 large scallops
  • 1/2 cup Arborio rice
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp butter, divided
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 lb green beans, trimmed
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Do This With That Stuff

  1. Wash and pat dry 8 large scallops, season with salt and pepper, and set aside
  2. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 tbsp of butter over medium heat, add minced shallot and garlic, cook until softened but not browned
  3. Add 1/2 cup Arborio rice to the saucepan, stir to coat with butter, cook for 2 minutes
  4. Pour in 1/4 cup white wine, cook until absorbed by the rice
  5. Ladle in chicken broth one ladle at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding more
  6. Continue this process until all chicken broth is used up and rice is cooked al dente
  7. Stir in 1/4 cup heavy cream and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese into the risotto, season with salt and pepper to taste; keep warm on low heat
  8. Fill a large skillet with water up to an inch below the steamer basket level; bring water to a boil
  9. Place trimmed green beans in the steamer basket; cover with a lid; steam for 5-7 minutes or until tender-crisp; remove from heat; set aside
  10. In the same large skillet (now empty), heat 1 tbsp olive oil and remaining 1 tbsp butter over medium-high heat
  11. Add seasoned scallops to the skillet; sear for about 2 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through (opaque)
  12. Divide risotto between two plates; top each plate with four seared scallops; arrange green beans on the side of each plate

Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings

☕ Bitter
  • Add 1/2 tsp ground radicchio
  • Add 1/4 cup chopped endive
  • Replace white wine with 1/4 cup red wine
  • Add 1 tsp lemon zest
🧂 Salty
  • Increase salt to 1 tsp
  • Add 1/4 cup capers
  • Add 1/2 cup chopped Kalamata olives
  • Add 1/4 tsp anchovy paste
🍋 Sour
  • Add 1 tbsp lemon juice to risotto
  • Add 1/2 tsp lemon zest to scallops seasoning
  • Replace white wine with 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
🌶️ Spicy
  • Add 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • Add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • Add 1/2 tsp paprika
🍬 Sweet
  • Add 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • Add 1/4 cup chopped candied walnuts
  • Replace white wine with 1/4 cup Marsala wine
  • Add 1 tsp honey to the heavy cream
🍄 Umami
  • Add 1 tbsp soy sauce to scallops marinade
  • Add 1/2 tsp anchovy paste to risotto
  • Replace chicken broth with mushroom broth
  • Add 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes to risotto
🍸 Alcoholic
  • Sancerre: The crisp acidity and citrus notes complement the scallops and cut through the richness of the risotto
  • Chardonnay: A lightly oaked Chardonnay adds depth to the dish while balancing the creaminess of the risotto
  • Pinot Grigio: The light, refreshing character of Pinot Grigio pairs well with seafood and enhances the flavors of the dish
🥤 Non Alcoholic
  • Sparkling Water with Lemon: The acidity and effervescence cleanse the palate between bites
  • Virgin Mojito: The mint and lime add a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors of the dish
  • Peach Iced Tea: The fruity sweetness balances the savory components of the meal
IMPORTANT NOTE: Artificial Intelligence created this—this means the following may or may not be correct or accurate. If following a specific diet is critical to your health and well-being due to ailments or health conditions, please consult your doctor before trying any of these variations.

🥓 Keto
  • Replace Arborio rice with 1/2 cup cauliflower rice
  • Remove white wine
  • Replace chicken broth with 1 cup chicken broth
  • Increase heavy cream to 1/2 cup
  • Increase Parmesan cheese to 1/2 cup
🍆 Mediterranean
  • Replace Arborio rice with 1/2 cup couscous
  • Replace chicken broth with 2 cups vegetable broth
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
  • Replace Parmesan cheese with 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • Add 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
  • Add 1/4 cup pitted and chopped Kalamata olives
  • Add 1 tsp dried oregano
🥑 Paleo
  • Replace Arborio rice with 1/2 cup cauliflower rice
  • Remove white wine
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup coconut cream
  • Remove grated Parmesan cheese
  • Replace butter with 3 tbsp ghee, divided
🐟 Pescatarian
  • Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth
🌱 Vegan
  • Replace 8 large scallops with 8 king oyster mushroom stems
  • Replace 2 cups chicken broth with 2 cups vegetable broth
  • Replace 1/4 cup heavy cream with 1/4 cup cashew cream
  • Replace 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese with 1/4 cup vegan Parmesan cheese alternative
  • Replace 2 tbsp butter with 2 tbsp vegan butter
🥦 Vegetarian
  • Replace 8 large scallops with 8 large button mushrooms
  • Replace 2 cups chicken broth with 2 cups vegetable broth
🥩 Whole30
  • Remove Arborio rice
  • Replace chicken broth with 2 cups vegetable broth
  • Remove white wine
  • Remove heavy cream
  • Remove Parmesan cheese
  • Replace butter with 2 tbsp ghee, divided
IMPORTANT NOTE: Artificial Intelligence created this—this means the following may or may not be correct or accurate. If following a specific diet is critical to your health and well-being due to ailments or health conditions, please consult your doctor before trying any of these variations.

🧠 Brain Health
  • Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
  • Replace butter with 2 tbsp coconut oil, divided
  • Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • Add 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage
🌾 Celiac Disease
  • No changes needed
💩 Crohns Disease
  • Remove white wine
  • Replace Arborio rice with 1/2 cup quinoa
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup lactose-free milk
  • Remove minced shallot
  • Remove minced garlic
  • Replace butter with 2 tbsp ghee, divided
🩸 Diabetes
  • Replace Arborio rice with 1/2 cup cauliflower rice
  • Replace white wine with 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • Replace grated Parmesan cheese with 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • Increase green beans to 3/4 lb
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
  • No changes needed
🫀 Heart Disease
  • Replace chicken broth with low-sodium chicken broth
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup low-fat milk
  • Replace butter with 2 tbsp of a heart-healthy spread, divided
  • Decrease Parmesan cheese to 2 tbsp
  • Increase olive oil to 2 tbsp, divided
❤️ Heart Health
  • Replace chicken broth with low-sodium chicken broth
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
  • Replace butter with 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • Decrease Parmesan cheese to 2 tbsp
🧂 High Blood Pressure
  • Replace chicken broth with low-sodium chicken broth
  • Replace butter with unsalted butter
  • Eliminate salt from seasoning scallops
  • Eliminate salt from seasoning risotto
🍔 High Cholesterol
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
  • Replace butter with 2 tbsp of avocado oil, divided
  • Replace Parmesan cheese with 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • Use low-sodium chicken broth
🦠 Immune System
  • Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth
  • Add 1/2 cup chopped bell peppers
  • Add 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup coconut milk
  • Add 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Replace Arborio rice with 1/2 cup brown rice
  • Replace chicken broth with 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup lactose-free milk
  • Replace grated Parmesan cheese with 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • Replace garlic with 1/2 tsp garlic-infused olive oil, added to the olive oil step
  • Replace shallot with 1/4 cup chopped green onion tops (green part only)
💧 Kidney Disease
  • Replace chicken broth with 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • Remove salt from seasoning scallops
  • Replace Parmesan cheese with 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • Decrease butter to 1 tbsp, divided
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup lactose-free heavy cream
  • Replace butter with 2 tbsp lactose-free butter
  • Replace Parmesan cheese with 1/4 cup grated lactose-free Parmesan cheese
🍺 Liver Disease
  • Replace chicken broth with low-sodium chicken broth
  • Replace white wine with 1/4 cup of apple juice
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup of low-fat milk
  • Replace grated Parmesan cheese with 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast flakes
  • Remove salt from seasoning
🤰 Pregnancy
  • Replace white wine with 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • Replace heavy cream with 1/4 cup whole milk

Beti’s Reflections

Bonjour, my fellow foodies! I recently stumbled upon a divine recipe while exploring the enchanting world of French Italian fusion cuisine. The Delectable Duo Delight is a romantic dinner for two that will transport your taste buds to the charming streets of Paris and the sun-kissed hills of Tuscany. Trust me, this scallops risotto recipe is one you’ll want to share with someone special!

The Delectable Duo Delight is perfect for an intimate dinner for two, combining succulent pan-seared scallops atop creamy Parmesan risotto with a side of garlicky green beans. This dish is not suitable for those with shellfish allergies or dietary restrictions like vegan or gluten-free diets. However, if you’re craving an elegant seafood dinner idea, this one’s for you!

Our star ingredients include 8 large scallops, Arborio rice, chicken broth, white wine, heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, shallot, garlic cloves, butter and olive oil. These ingredients come together to create a harmonious symphony of flavors – the tender seared scallops are complemented by the rich and creamy risotto with Arborio rice while the crisp green beans add a delightful crunch.

To create this masterpiece, start by washing and seasoning your scallops before setting them aside. In a saucepan, cook minced shallot and garlic in butter until softened but not browned. Add Arborio rice to coat with butter and cook briefly before pouring in white wine. Gradually ladle in chicken broth while stirring constantly until absorbed by the rice. Once cooked al dente, stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese into the risotto before seasoning it to taste.

For your green bean side dish recipe component, steam trimmed green beans until tender-crisp. Finally, sear your seasoned scallops in olive oil and butter until golden brown and cooked through (opaque). Plate your creamy Parmesan risotto, top it with the seared scallops, and arrange the green beans on the side for a truly delectable duo delight.

The Delectable Duo Delight is a celebration of French Italian cuisine that will leave you and your loved one craving more. This easy scallop risotto meal is perfect for a romantic dinner for two or an elegant seafood dinner party. So go ahead, indulge in this gourmet scallop recipe and let your taste buds embark on a culinary adventure they won’t forget! Bon appétit and buon appetito!

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