Lime Seared Scallops With Spinach And Caramelized Walnuts Recipes

SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH GINGER-LIME BUTTER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Wash sweet potatoes and wrap them tightly in foil. Roast until tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. (If you are using larger sweet potatoes, they may require 15 minutes more in the oven.)
• Using a paring knife, remove the small hard "foot" from the edge of each scallop. Pat scallops dry and season on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Put on a medium pot of salted water to boil for the greens.
• Meanwhile, make the ginger butter: Combine butter, ginger, chile and lime zest and juice and stir together until well incorporated. Season with salt to taste. Set aside.
• Take a cast-iron skillet large enough to hold the scallops without crowding and place over medium-high heat. Add a film of olive oil. When the oil is nearly smoking, add the scallops in one layer and let them sizzle. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook for at least 5 minutes. Use a small spatula to check the scallops as they brown, allowing them to color gradually. They should be quite crisp and well caramelized. Turn off heat and flip scallops. Leave in pan until firm to the touch.
• While the scallops are cooking, blanch the bok choy: Cook it for 1 minute in the salted boiling water, then drain and blot on a kitchen towel. Keep warm.
• Remove and place scallops, browned side up, onto warmed serving plates. Surround with the bok choy leaves and halved or sliced sweet potatoes.
• Quickly warm the butter in the cast-iron pan and spoon over everything. Sprinkle with cilantro if desired.

LIME SEARED SCALLOPS WITH SPINACH AND CARAMELIZED WALNUTS

Steps:

• For the walnuts, arrange walnuts in a dry nonstick pan over medium heat.
• Sprinkle them with sugar, and cook until they are shiny and brown, 4 to 5 minutes, shaking the pan continuously.
• Transfer to a small plate and set aside.
• For the scallops, whisk together 2 teaspoons of the oil, tarragon, zest, garlic, shallots, and half of the lime juice in a wide, shallow dish.
• Add scallops, toss to coat, cover and refrigerate for no longer than 30 to 45 minutes.
• Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil to a large skillet over medium and heat for about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, drain scallops from the marinade, and rest them on a paper towel for a moment to dry.
• Gently add scallops to the skillet, trying not to crowd them together. Do not move them, as that makes the searing process more difficult.
• Cook them on one side for 2 to 3 minutes, until the scallops are browned.
• Turn them over, and repeat the process.
• When the scallops are cooked through and opaque, deglaze the pan by adding the rest of the lime juice over the scallops.
• Remove the scallops and the accumulated pan juices, and place them on a covered plate to keep warm.
• For the spinach, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add garlic and cook until just lightly browned.
• Immediately add the spinach and cook briefly until the leaves are wilted.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Form a nest of spinach on each of 6 plates.
• Place a portion of the cooked scallops over the spinach, add a little of the pan juices, and top with the caramelized walnuts. Serve immediately.

SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH LIME-GINGER SAUCE AND CARAMELIZED ENDIVE

Steps:

• To make the endive, melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Season the endive with salt and pepper and place cut side down in the skillet. Cook until lightly browned on the bottom, about 8 minutes.
• Sprinkle the sugar and lime juice over the top and cook, turning occasionally, until the endive are caramelized and tender when pierced with a knife, about 15 minutes longer. Cover and keep warm (can be prepared ahead and reheated in the oven).
• To make the scallops, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the scallops with salt and pepper, place them in the skillet and sear until lightly browned and warm in the center, about 1 minute per side.
• To make the sauce, combine the shallot, garlic, ginger, lime juice and port in a nonreactive saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until nearly all of the liquid has evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add the cream, bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Whisk in the butter a few pieces at a time until all is incorporated. Strain the sauce and season with salt, pepper and a touch of cayenne. Keep warm.
• To serve, place 1 endive half on each of 6 plates. Divide the scallops among the plates and spoon the sauce over and around them. Sprinkle with the scallions and tomato. Serve immediately.