Pan Roasted Diver Scallops With Potato And Celery Root Puree And Brown Butter Recipes

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH TRUFFLED POTATO CELERY ROOT PUREE

Steps:

• Melt the unsalted butter in a medium (10-inch) saute pan or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the leeks and saute for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned. Add the potatoes, celery root, heavy cream, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to very low, cover the pan, and simmer gently for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender. Be careful?don't let the vegetables scorch on the bottom of the pan!
• In two batches, pour the leek and potato mixture into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse until coarsely pureed. Return the puree to the saute pan, stir in the truffle butter, taste for seasonings, and keep warm over very low heat. If the puree gets too thick, add a little more heavy cream.
• If it hasn't already been removed, peel off the tough strip of muscle on the side of each scallop. Pat the scallops dry with paper towels and season them generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the grapeseed oil and, when the oil is almost smoking hot, add the scallops in a single layer. Cook undisturbed for about 3 minutes, until golden brown on the bottoms. Don't crowd the scallops or they'll steam rather than sear. Using a small metal spatula, turn the scallops and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more, until just cooked through.
• Spoon the warm puree onto 3 dinner plates. Place the scallops on the puree, drizzle with the basil oil, and sprinkle with the chives. Serve warm.

SCALLOPS PROVENCAL

Steps:

• If you're using bay scallops, keep them whole. If you're using sea scallops, cut each 1 in half horizontally. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, toss with flour, and shake off the excess.
• In a very large saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the butter over high heat until sizzling and add the scallops in 1 layer. Lower the heat to medium and allow the scallops to brown lightly on 1 side without moving them, then turn and brown lightly on the other side. This should take 3 to 4 minutes, total. Melt the rest of the butter in the pan with the scallops, then add the shallots, garlic, and parsley and saute for 2 more minutes, tossing the seasonings with the scallops. Add the wine, cook for 1 minute, and taste for seasoning. Serve hot with a squeeze of lemon juice.

PAN-ROASTED DIVER SCALLOPS, WITH LIME AND CREME FRAICHE CREAMED CORN, AND CILANTRO SALAD

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Season both sides of the scallops with salt, to taste. Add the scallops to the hot pan, and don't touch! Let them caramelize until golden brown, about 3 minutes, and then flip. Add the butter and coriander and allow the butter to melt. Begin to baste the scallops, spooning the melted butter along the tops of the scallops, so the scallops barely cook through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Build your cilantro salad by adding cilantro leaves, pickled onions and pickled chiles to a medium mixing bowl. Add the lime juice and extra-virgin olive oil and mix to combine.
• Put a couple of spoonfuls of creamed corn down on each plate, then top it with 3 scallops. Finish with a heaping spoonful of cilantro salad. Drizzle with a little extra-virgin olive oil and serve immediately.
• In a medium-saucepan, add corn stock and bring to a simmer.
• Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter. Add the shallots, a pinch of salt, and let sweat, cooking until the shallots are a bit translucent. Add the garlic, a bit more salt and cook about 1 minute more. Add the corn kernels and continue to cook for a few minutes, adding a touch more salt as you go. Keep stirring so the mixture combines together and nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan. Using a ladle, add some of the warmed corn stock, about 1 1/2 cups, adding more if it seems dry, and stir to combine. Season with a little cracked pepper. Let the corn mixture cook for about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the lime zest and fold in the creme fraiche. Taste for seasoning and adjust, if necessary.
• Corn Cob Stock: Cut the kernels from the cobs and reserve the kernels for another purpose. Toss the cobs into a large pot with the onion, garlic, thyme, coriander, stock and salt. Bring to a boil, over medium heat, then lower the heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer, discarding the solids. You should have about 4 cups.
• Put the sliced chiles in a medium mixing bowl.
• Add all the pickling liquids and spices to a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Pour the hot liquid over the sliced chiles and set sit for about 20 minutes. Drain the chiles and discard the pickling juice and spices. Use right away or store in a covered container in the refrigerator for a couple weeks.
• Pack the onions into 2 (1-quart) jars and cover with enough water to come within 1/2-inch of the rim. Pour the water out into a measuring cup. Note the volume, pour off half of the water, and replace it with vinegar. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons salt for every 3 cups of liquid.
• Pour the vinegar mixture into a nonreactive saucepan, add the mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, coriander seeds, black peppercorns, garlic, and bay leaves, and bring to a boil over high heat. Allow the liquid to boil for 2 minutes, and then remove it from the heat.
• Pour the hot liquid into the jars to cover the onions and screw on the lids. Refrigerate for up to 1 month.

TRUFFLED BAY SCALLOPS WITH CELERY PURéE

Steps:

• Make celery purée:
• Simmer broth, celery, potato, onion, and 1/4 tsp salt in a small heavy saucepan, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Add parsley and cook, uncovered, 1 minute. Purée mixture in a blender until very smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Keep warm in saucepan.
• Cook scallops:
• Pat scallops dry and season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté scallops until barley cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Add truffle butter and stir until melted, then transfer scallops with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Stir celery purée into truffle butter in skillet. Spoon onto plates, then mound scallops in center and sprinkle with celery leaves.
• Do Ahead
• Purée (without truffle butter) can be made 1 day ahead and chilled. Reheat in a microwave or in a saucepan over low heat before stirring into truffle butter.