Scallops On Cauliflower PurÉe Raisin Caper Sauce Recipes

SCALLOPS AND CAULIFLOWER WITH CAPER-RAISIN SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250°F. Combine the capers and raisins in a small saucepan and add 3/4 cup water; simmer gently until the raisins are plump, about 10 minutes. Do not cook rapidly; you don't want to reduce the liquid. Let the mixture cool for a couple of minutes, then purée it in a blender. Return it to the saucepan.
• Meanwhile, use a sharp knife or mandoline to cut the cauliflower florets into 1/4-inch-thick slices; you will need a total of 24 slices. Place 1 tablespoon each butter and oil in a large skillet and sauté the cauliflower over medium high heat; do this in 2 or more batches to avoid crowding (add another tablespoon of butter or oil when necessary.) Season it with salt and pepper as it cooks. Don't turn it too often; you want it to brown nicely. Total cooking time will be about 10 minutes, after which the cauliflower should be brown and crisp-tender. Remove and keep warm in a bowl in the oven.
• Deglaze the pan by heating 1/4 cup water in it and stirring and scraping the bottom over high heat for a minute or two. Add the parsley and pour this juice over the cauliflower; gently stir and return the cauliflower to the oven while you cook the scallops.
• Place 1 tablespoon each butter and oil in another large ovenproof skillet and turn the heat to medium-high. When the butter foams, add the scallops and cook on one side only until nicely browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Again, do this in batches to avoid crowding (adding another tablespoon of butter or oil when necessary). Remove the scallops from the pan as they brown and season with salt and pepper; keep them warm in the oven.
• Reheat the sauce, then add the nutmeg, vinegar, and pepper and salt, if needed. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Spoon a little of the sauce onto each of 4 serving plates. Place 6 scallop pieces, browned side up, on each plate; top each scallop with a piece of cauliflower. Finish with a tiny grating of nutmeg.

SCALLOPS W/ CARAMELIZED CAULIFLOWER & CAPER-RAISIN EMULSION

Steps:

• Heat the raisins, capers and their liquid, 4 tablespoons of the butter and water to a low simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat; cook 10 minutes.
• Cool 5 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to a blender; blend until smooth; blend in vinegar, season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and the nutmeg and pepper to taste; return mixture to the saucepan and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add cauliflower.
• Cook, turning, until brown and crisp on both sides, about 5 minutes.
• Season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and pepper to taste.
• Remove cauliflower to a plate.
• Add remaining 1 tablespoon of the butter to the skillet.
• Season scallops with remaining 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and pepper to taste; add scallops to skillet.
• Cook, turning once, until just opaque, about 4 minutes.
• Spoon raisin sauce onto plate; top with scallop slices, then with cauliflower slices and sprinkle with parsley; season with freshly grated nutmeg.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CAULIFLOWER, CAPERS AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add caulifolower and boil over high heat until just tender, 3-4 minutes.
• Drain, shaking off excess water.
• In a large skillet, heat oil until simmering.
• Season scallops with salt and pepper. Add to skillet in a single layer and cook over high heat until golden and crusty, about 2 minutes.
• Turn the scallops.
• Add the butter, cauliflower, almonds, capers, and raisins and cook undistributed until the scallops are white throughout and cauliflower is lightly browned in spots, about1 minute longer.
• Add the balsamic vinegar and stir gently to coat.
• Transfer to plates, garnish with parsley and serve.
• Enjoy!