Moroccan Sea Scallops Recipes

MOROCCAN SEA SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Coat grill with nonstick spray and preheat to medium-high (I'm guessing about 350ºF on a Foreman grill).
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the first ten ingredients (from yogurt to fresh ground pepper). Add scallops and toss to coat. Set aside to marinate for 15 minutes.
• In a small skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add shallots and fresh ginger. Saute for about 3 minutes, taking care not to brown it.
• In a food processor, pulse the tomatoes, vinegar, honey and lemon zest. While processor is running, drizzle in the warm shallot-ginger mixture. Once blended, transfer this to a mixing bowl and stir in parsley. Season with salt to taste. Set aside (at room temperature) until serving time.
• Remove scallops from marinade and discard remaining marinade. Place scallops on grill and sear for 2-3 minutes, then turn them over and grill for 3-5 minutes more (until cooked through. don't overcook or you will have little rubber scallops).
• Spoon approximately half a cup of vinaigrette onto each serving plate, and top with three scallops per plate.

MOROCCAN-SPICED SCALLOPS WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• Mix first 3 ingredients in small bowl. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons spice mixture and sauté 30 seconds. Stir in 21/2 cups vegetable broth and lentils. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer until lentils are tender, adding more broth by tablespoonfuls if dry and stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup cilantro; season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Sprinkle scallops with salt, pepper, and remaining spice mixture; add to skillet and cook until browned on both sides and just opaque in centers, about 2 minutes per side. Top lentil mixture with scallops and sprinkle with additional cilantro.
• Also known as masoor dal; sold at some supermarkets and at natural foods stores and Indian markets. If unavailable, use green lentils and increase cooking time to about 30 minutes.

MOROCCAN-SPICED SEARED SCALLOPS WITH GREEN GRAPE AND LEMON RELISH

Steps:

• Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest from the lemon in strips (yellow part only). Reserve the lemon. In a small saucepan, combine the lemon zest with 1/2 cup water and 1 tsp. salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook until the liquid reduces to about 1 Tbs., about 10 minutes. Drain, rinse, drain again, and pat dry. Finely mince the lemon zest and combine it with the grapes, 2 Tbs. of the olive oil, scallions, cilantro, and mint in a medium bowl.
• In a small bowl, combine the cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger.
• Pat the scallops dry. Season them liberally with salt and pepper and coat them with the spice mixture.
• Heat 1 Tbs. of the olive oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add half of the scallops and cook, turning once, until seared on the outside but still translucent in the center, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a warm plate. Repeat with the remaining 1 Tbs. oil and scallops.
• Divide the scallops among 4 plates and serve with the relish. Cut the reserved lemon into quarters and squeeze over the scallops and relish. Serve immediately.

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Core and remove the seeds of the red pepper and cut into julienne strips about an inch long.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over high heat. Add the garlic and cook briefly; do not brown. Add the red pepper, tomatoes, olives, capers, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes. Then, remove from heat and keep warm.
• In a large nonstick skillet melt the butter over high heat. When the butter is bubbling, add the scallops. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the scallops. Sprinkle the lemon juice and basil over them and cook and stir briefly.
• Spoon a portion of the tomato mixture onto each of 4 warmed serving plates. Distribute the scallops evenly over the mixture. Serve immediately.

CARAMELIZED SEA SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Season scallops with salt, pepper and paprika.
• Place olive oil in a large skillet over high heat.
• Place scallops in skillet.
• Sear them two-three minutes per side, until caramelized (browned).
• Place scallops on platter, and cover loosely with foil.
• Sprinkle scallions over scallops and serve.

AWESOME BAKED SEA SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Place scallops, melted butter, garlic, and shallots in a bowl. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to combine. Transfer to a casserole dish.
• In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs and olive oil. Sprinkle on top of scallops.
• Bake in preheated oven until crumbs are brown and scallops are done, about 11 to 14 minutes. Top with parsley, and serve with lemon wedges on the side.

SEA SCALLOPS WITH SHERRY AND SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Season scallops on both sides with 1 teaspoon salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add scallops (work in batches; use remaining oil if necessary, depending on size of pan); cook until golden brown and caramelized, about 1 minute on each side. When cooked, pour off any fat remaining in pan. Set aside scallops on a plate covered with foil.
• Return pan to heat. Deglaze pan with sherry, scraping browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Simmer until sherry is reduced by two-thirds. Add stock, butter, saffron, thyme, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil; add couscous. Cover the pan; remove from heat. Let sit for 5 minutes. Uncover; fluff with a fork; adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve with scallops.