Scallop calories and he alth benefits

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 16:12

The soft meaty texture and subtle sweet flavor of scallops appeal even to those who are not particularly fond of fish or other shellfish. The season for this fresh seafood runs from October to March. Frozen clams are available all year round.

What is this?

Scallops are mollusks that have two beautiful convex ribbed or jagged shells. They consist of two shells hinged at one end, which is why they are known to marine biologists as bivalves. The edible part of the scallop is the white muscle that opens and closes the two shells, and is called the "nut". The reproductive glands, known as "corals", are also edible, though not widely used in modern cooking.

Calorie content of scallop per 100 grams is about 88 kilocalories, which makes this product dietary. At the same time, the product contains a lot of protein and little fat. This characteristic makes it a very useful product.

He alth benefits

Most people know that fishgood for he alth, but what about other seafood? As it turns out, scallops, in addition to their delicious taste, contain a host of nutrients that may help promote cardiovascular he alth as well as protect against colon cancer. Since the calorie content of scallop is low, you can include it regularly in your diet.

These shellfish are an excellent source of a very important nutrient for the body - vitamin B₁₂. It is needed to convert homocysteine (a chemical compound that can directly damage the walls of blood vessels) into other benign chemicals. Because high homocysteine levels are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, diabetic heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, it's a good idea to make sure your diet is high in vitamin B_{12. Typically, foods rich in this compound contain a significant amount of fat. In contrast, sea scallops, whose calorie content per 100 grams does not exceed 90 kilocalories, can serve as an excellent prophylactic.}

Influence on heart rate

In addition to containing B_{12, scallops are a good source of magnesium and potassium, two nutrients that provide significant cardiovascular benefits. Magnesium helps blood vessels to relax, which can lower blood pressure whenwhile improving blood flow. Potassium helps maintain normal blood pressure levels.}

Eating scallops increases heart rate variability (measurement of heart muscle function). The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA found in seafood and fish reduce the risk of arrhythmia and sudden death. As a rule, such products are quite fatty. But this does not apply to scallop, which is low in calories.

Protection of vessels

Deep vein thrombosis is a dangerous condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins of the legs, hips, or pelvis, causing swelling and pain. An embolism occurs when part or all of a blood clot in a deep vein breaks away from where it was created and travels through the circulatory system. If such a blood clot enters the lungs, a very serious condition occurs - a pulmonary embolism. The use of seafood avoids the development of this danger. Sea scallop, which is low in calories and fat, saturates the body with beneficial acids that strengthen blood vessels and improve blood circulation.

Thus, this shellfish is extremely beneficial to he alth. It is also noted that cases of allergy to it are extremely rare.

How to eat them

Scallops are low in calories unless fried in a lot of oil. The most recommended way to prepare them is by boiling orfor a couple. In any case, they should only be cooked within a few minutes, as exposure to too much heat will make the food tough.

How to cook scallop

As noted above, the calorie content of boiled scallop is approximately 126 calories. When cooking, the main rule is not to increase the nutrition too much. Add light ingredients to the clam.

For example, serve cooked scallops with papaya, cilantro, jalapeno and ginger salsa.

You can also prepare marinated scallops, add leeks, cherry tomatoes to them and bake everything in the oven. To make the finished dish more juicy and fragrant, add a few drops of olive oil with garlic.

It will also be delicious if stewed scallops with ginger, shiitake mushrooms and green onions. This dish can be served hot or cold.

Spicy Korean Scallop Snack

As noted above, many he althy and not very nutritious dishes can be prepared from this mollusk. In addition to baking and stewing, sea scallops can be eaten marinated. The most common version of this preparation is Korean-style salad. Many people like spicy snacks, and the calorie content of Korean scallop is only 96 kcal. Preparing this spicy snack is very simple. For her you will need:

• a few clams (6-8 pieces);
• natural soy sauce - 3 teaspoons;
• sugar - 1 teaspoon;
• garlic - 3 prongs;
• water - 1 teaspoon;
• green onion;
• vegetable oil - 2 teaspoons.

First of all, you need to prepare the marinade. To do this, sugar must be dissolved in a mixture of soy sauce and water. Then you need to dip the scallops into this mixture and steam them in it until cooked. This will take 4-5 minutes.

Separately, you need to fry the chopped garlic in oil so that it is completely saturated with the aroma of the vegetable. Ready and chilled clams are required to be poured with garlic oil and sprinkled with green onions. If you like more spiciness, you can add hot pepper to the marinade.