Step 1

Before You Start: If you will include this dish in your Osechi meal, you can cook it up to a day before you plan to serve. For more helpful tips on planning your Japanese New Year feast, please read my A 5-Day Osechi Cooking Timeline blog post.

Step 2

Gather all the ingredients.

Step 3

Season the scallops with freshly ground black pepper.

Step 4

Heat the frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add half of the butter and let it melt. Then, add the scallops to the pan.

Step 5

Sear one side of the scallops, then flip to sear the other side. The key is to sear quickly, as these boiled scallops are already pre-cooked.

Step 6

Add the other half of the butter and swirl the pan to let it melt.

Step 7

Finally, add the soy sauce and coat the scallops with the pan sauce.

Step 8

When the scallops are well coated with the sauce, transfer them to a plate and serve warm as an appetizer. If you're serving it as part of your Osechi (traditional Japanese New Year foods) menu, let them cool before packing in the jubako box.

Step 9

You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and keep them for 2 days in the refrigerator or for up to a month in the freezer.