Korean Grilled Scallops (Butter Garlic Shell-On Scallop Grill)

Quick answer

Total time: 25 min
Level: Easy
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients: 6

About this dish

Garibi-gui is a Korean grilled scallop dish where shell-on scallops are placed directly on the grill until they pop open, then topped with butter and minced garlic that sizzle and melt into the adductor muscle.

The scallop's deep natural sweetness melds with the richness of melted butter and the sharp warmth of garlic, a combination that produces a layered flavor far more compelling than the ingredient count suggests. A cap of mozzarella cheese added for the final two to three minutes creates a stretchy, golden layer over the plump flesh, but restraint is key: covering only about half the scallop prevents the cheese from overwhelming the clean marine sweetness beneath it. Over charcoal, the shell acts as a natural vessel that channels smoky heat directly into the meat, adding a dimension that a gas burner or stovetop simply cannot replicate. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving cuts through the butter's richness and lifts the brine. Placing a single prawn alongside the scallop for the final minutes of cooking doubles the seafood sweetness and makes the dish even more compelling as an anju, the Korean term for food eaten alongside alcohol.

Ingredients (2 servings)

Ingredient	Amount	Unit
scallops in shell	10	ea
butter	20	g
minced garlic	1	tbsp
mozzarella cheese	60	g
salt	0.3	tsp
black pepper	0.2	tsp

Instructions

Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.

6 steps

1

Step

Scrub 10 shell-on scallops under running water, working the brush into the grooves and hinge areas.

Rinse several times, because trapped sand will loosen into the shell juices and create a gritty bite.
2

Control

Heat a grill or heavy pan over medium-high heat, then set the scallops shell-side down.

Do not move them for 3-4 minutes, and wait until the shells open and liquid gathers inside.
3

Step

When the scallops open, carefully remove only the top shells.

Keep the juices around the adductor muscle in the bottom shells, and do not force open any scallop that stays tightly closed.
4

Control

Place about 2 g butter and about 0.1 tablespoon minced garlic on each adductor muscle.

Continue cooking over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, until the butter sizzles and spreads through the shell juices.
5

Control

Divide 60 g mozzarella over the scallops, covering only about half of each adductor surface.

Grill 2-3 more minutes until melted, then lower the heat if the shell juices reduce too quickly.
6

Finish

Sprinkle the scallops lightly with 0.3 teaspoon salt and 0.2 teaspoon black pepper.

Serve as soon as the butter bubbles and the flesh feels plump, adding lemon juice just before eating if using it.

Practical Cooking Checks

The cues that matter most while cooking.

Key technique: Garibi-gui highlights shell-on scallops grilled with sizzling minced garlic and melted butter.
Finish cue: Sprinkle the scallops lightly with 0.3 teaspoon salt and 0.2 teaspoon black pepper.
Avoid this: Do not move them for 3-4 minutes, and wait until the shells open and liquid gathers inside.