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Saucer Scallop

Where Caught

  • Dotted line Found
  • Solid line Found and caught

Map of Australia showing where Saucer Scallop are found and caught.

When Caught

Commercial scallop: harvested from farms year round, and wild-caught mainly from May until December

Saucer scallop: caught year round, although fishery closures occur in some areas

Important Features

Wild/Farmed
Wild and Farmed
Habitat
Saltwater
Recovery Rate
Flesh with roe (commercial scallop): 20% of total weight (in half-shell), Flesh without roe (saucer scallop): 15% of total weight (in half-shell)
The recovery rate varies depending on the species and roe condition and retention.

Saucer Scallop Research

FRDC provides a comprehensive search of the latest research papers and images on Saucer Scallop

Remarks

Saucer scallop roe is always cut off, whereas the roe of commercial scallop is usually left on.

Dried scallops are popular in many parts of Asia.

Imports

Asia, Canada and USA:
white scallop meat
Asia and New Zealand:
scallops with roe

Common Size

9-10 cm

Alternatives

Nil

Grading

Grading can vary by supplier and region. Examples of grading systems for scallops are presented below.

Terminology such as U-100 or U/100 is pronounced under one hundred and refers to the number of scallops per a specified weight (pound or kilogram), in this case fewer than 100 scallops per pound or kilogram. '10-20' is pronounced 'ten twenty' and means that there are from 10 to 20 scallops per pound or kilogram.

Broken scallop meat

Sold without being graded by size

Saucer Scallop Amusium balloti

Photograph by Thor Carter

Saucer Scallop (sample)

Nutrition Facts

per 100g of raw product

Kilojoules224* (53* Calories)
Cholesterol102 mg
Sodium163* mg
Total fat (oil)0.9 mg
Saturated fat32% of total fat
Monounsaturated fat15% of total fat
Polyunsaturated fat53% of total fat
Omega-3, EPA166 mg
Omega-3, DHA116 mg
Omega-6, AA21 mg

Data presented are for commercial scallop.

*unconfirmed identification

Cooking Ideas

BakeBoilDeep Fry
Grill/barbecuePoachRaw
RoeRoe & MilkSalted
Shallow FrySmokeSteam/microwave

Note: Cooking Ideas identified by dark bold text are relevant to this species

Scallops are strong and rich in flavour with a medium firm texture. They are popular grilled or barbecued, but avoid overcooking, which causes shrinkage, or the use of too much salt. Grill under a salamander, then drizzle with lime juice and olive oil, or sprinkle with fresh lemon zest and cracked pepper. Combine with coriander, avocado and chilli salsa on a crispy pappadum.

Create the perfect party dish by deep frying scallops in a tempura batter and serve with a soy, ginger and garlic dipping sauce, or present a potpourri of deep fried seafood types such as prawns, oysters, mussels, finfish, calamari and scallops with tartare, aioli, rÈmoulade and fresh citrus juices.

Poach scallops in a good court bouillon and use them as studs in a salmon and white finfish terrine for contrasting texture.

Scallop roe also provides excellent flavour for p tÈs, soups or chowders.

Flavour
Medium to Strong
Oiliness
Low
Moisture
Moist
Texture
Medium to Firm
Flesh Colour
The flesh is white to cream when raw and white when cooked. The roe varies from white to orange or pinkish purple depending on species and condition.
Price
Scallops are high-priced molluscs, but broken scallops and scallop meat pieces may be purchased at a much lower price.
Price is not necessarily a guide to quality.
Edibility
Flesh (adductor muscle) and roe (gonad)

Suggested Wines

For the barbecued or tempura cooking suggestions, a spicy traminer will be complementary.

A fresh Tasmanian riesling will complement the dishes containing the citrus components.

Similar styles will complement Andrew Blake s wonderful recipe for oven baked scallops (p. 295).