March 12th is a food holiday celebrating a popular delicacy, the scallop.

Scallops are a cosmopolitan family and can be found in all of the world’s oceans.  They are one of the most popular shellfish in the world and highly prized as a food source.

There are two fleshy parts of the scallop that are usually sold at market for human consumption. The adductor muscle is the white medallion of meat which is rich and sweet. This is the piece that is most familiar as the  “scallop” we see on a menu.

There is also the coral or the roe which can range in color from pale coral to bright orange. This crescent-shaped piece is usually discarded before the scallop is sold at market because it may contain toxins. However, sometimes it is sold attached to the adductor muscle. It is bitter and some say it cuts the richness of the rest of the scallop.

These meaty mollusks are very low in fat and are delicious prepared in a variety of ways.  Baking them omits much of the butter and fat that otherwise go into cooking this lean, white seafood.

Baked scallops are often found served as a delicious entree, however, they are also known and loved as an appetizer.

Explore More Seafood?

• National Seafood Month
• National Fried Scallops Day
• National Shrimp Day
• National Baked Scallops Day
• Clams on the Half Shell Day
• National Shrimp Scampi Day
• Oysters Rockefeller Day
• French Fried Shrimp Day
• National Lobster Day
• National Go Fishing Day
• National Catfish Day
• National Caviar Day
• National Oyster Day
• National Seafood Bisque Day
• National Crab Meat Day
• Lobster Newburgh Day
• Deep Fried Clams Day
• Crab Stuffed Flounder Day
• National Sardines Day
• National Clam Chowder Day
• National Catfish Month
• Creamy Shrimp with Asparagus
• Spinach Artichoke Crusted Salmon
• Shrimp Mushroom Pasta Salad
• New England Style Clam Chowder

HOW TO OBSERVE

Try baking some scallops at home.

Use #BakedScallopsDay to post on social media.