Scallops are a type of bivalve (a laterally compressed body which is in a shell made from two parts that are connected by a hinge) mollusc. They are a saltwater mollusc that is found in oceans in the wild, but they are often farmed. The scallop shell is very distinctive, and prized since ancient times, with some religious significance attached, and have often been used as a motif in various things.
The scallop flesh is divided into two main parts. The adductor is the white, meaty portion, and the roe, or coral, is soft and either red or white. In the US in particular, scallops are commonly sold without the roe. There are a range of species that are all referred to as scallops, and these can range widely in size.
This day celebrates a rather specific way of cooking scallops - frying them. Of course, there are many different types of frying. The scallops could be battered or bread crumbed before frying, or alternatively they could be shallow fried in oil without any coating. Shallow frying, rather than deep frying in bread crumbs, does tend to be a healthier way of preparing them.
