Coquilles Saint Jacques is a must try French recipe! Shrimp and scallops baked in a creamy sauce surrounded by mashed potatoes, topped with cheese and broiled to perfection.
The Best Coquilles Saint Jacques (Baked Scallop Shells) Recipe
A classic of French cuisine, this scallop recipe for Coquilles Saint Jacques, oven-baked in the shell, is the absolute best! In this recipe, it is elevated with the addition of bite size pieces of shrimp added to the sweet bay scallops.
Origins of Coquilles Saint Jacques
Coquilles Saint Jacques is a French dish. Translated in English this means “shell of St. James”. After some research, I read that the scallop shell symbolizes St. James. According to legend, when the remains of St. James were being transported from Spain to Jerusalem, a knight’s horse fell into the water and emerged covered in scallop shells.
What is in this Dish
Star Ingredients
- Scallops and Shrimp pair perfectly together with a creamy garlicy sauce. The bay scallops add a hint of sweetness to this savory dish. Topped with shredded cheese and broiled until golden brown.
How to Prepare Coquilles Saint Jacques
Full Printable Recipe Below
Mashed Potatoes
1 In a pot of salted water, cook the potatoes until tender. Drain.
2 With a masher, mash the potatoes with the butter.
3 Stir in the milk to the potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Set aside in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
4 With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Filling
5 In a pot, sauté the shallots or onions and garlic in the butter until softened
6 Add the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
7 Add the milk and wine and bring to a boil while whisking. Cook for 1 minute.
8 Remove from the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
9 Add the scallops, shrimp and ½ cup of the cheese. Stir to combine.
10 Spoon the filling into scallop shells or ramekin(s).
11 Pipe the mashed potatoes around the rim of the shells or ramekins. Or use a spoon to dollop the mashed potatoes around the filling. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
12 Bake for 10 minutes.
Finish under the broiler until the cheese and potatoes are golden brown.
Alternatively these can be baked in an Air Fryer at 325°F for about 5 minutes until golden brown.
Top with shredded parmesan cheese and serve!
Tips and Suggestions for making Coquilles Saint Jacques:
CAN I ADD OTHER TYPES OF SEAFOOD?
• Crab meat or pollock may also be added to the seafood mixture.
CAN I TOP WITH OTHER TYPES OF CHEESE?
• Gruyère cheese can be substituted for the mozzarella in this recipe.
WHAT CAN I USE IF I DON’T HAVE SCALLOP SHELLS?
• If you don’t have scallop shells, ramekins may be substituted. Another alternative is to bake the entire recipe in a casserole dish and serve buffet style.
Looking for More Easy Seafood Appetizers?
Check out some of my most popular:
- Bang Bang Shrimp Egg Rolls - sweet and spicy appetizer for your next get together! Filled with shrimp tossed in an irresistible bang bang sauce and cabbage slaw these are a must try!
- Mussels Portuguese Style - one of my favorite seafood dishes! Flavor packed mussels in a spicy garlic tomato sauce. This is my mom’s classic recipe!
- Shrimp Artichoke Dip - the ultimate easy and creamy appetizer that is perfect for sharing! Packed with flavor from fresh garlic, green onions and Old Bay Seasoning this is a must try dip!
Enjoy!
- Sab
The Best Coquilles St. Jacques (Baked Scallop Shells)
Ingredients
Mashed Potatoes
- 2 cups russet potatoes (peeled and cubed)
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon milk
Filling
- 2 shallots or 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon all purpose flour
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup white wine
- 2 cups bay scallops (drained and patted dry)
- 1 cup shrimp (cubed to bite size)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (grated)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
Mashed Potatoes
- In a pot of salted water, cook the potatoes until tender. Drain.
- With a masher, mash the potatoes with the butter.
- Stir in the milk to the potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Set aside in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
- With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Filling
- In a pot, sauté the shallots or onions and garlic in the butter until softened
- Add the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add the milk and wine and bring to a boil while whisking. Cook for 1 minute.
- Remove from the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the scallops, shrimp and ½ cup of the cheese. Stir to combine.
- Spoon the filling into scallop shells or ramekin(s).
- Pipe the mashed potatoes around the rim of the shells or ramekins. Or use a spoon to dollop the mashed potatoes around the filling.
- Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Finish under the broiler until the cheese and potatoes are golden brown.
- Alternatively these can be baked in an Air Fryer at 325°F for about 5 minutes until golden brown.
Video
Notes
Crab meat or pollock may also be added to the seafood mixture. CAN I TOP WITH OTHER TYPES OF CHEESE?
Gruyère cheese can be substituted for the mozzarella in this recipe. WHAT CAN I USE IF I DON’T HAVE SCALLOP SHELLS?
If you don’t have scallop shells, ramekins may be substituted. Another alternative is to bake the entire recipe in a casserole dish and serve buffet style. CAN I PREPARE COQUILLES ST-JACQUES AHEAD OF TIME?
The seafood mixture and bechamel sauce can be prepared and refrigerated a day ahead. On the day of serving, prepare the mashed potatoes and assemble just before baking. CAN I FREEZE COQUILLES ST-JACQUES?
• Yes, definitely! Coquilles St-Jacques can also be frozen once assembled but prior to baking. Defrost in the refrigerator the night before baking.
Sara says
These were unreal and a big hit! Definitely going to be a regular meal for our house 🙂