Seared Scallops With Basil Pesto Mediterranean Orzo Recipes

SEARED SEA SCALLOPS OVER PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a non-stick skillet or frying pan, heat olive oil over moderately high heat until very hot.
• Season the scallops with toasted sesame ginger seasonings (or with salt and pepper).
• Add the scallops to the pan and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes, until the bottoms get browned.
• Drizzle on top with soy sauce. Then add the butter to the scallops.
• Turn and cook until browned on the other side, about 2 minutes. Add lemon juice on top while cooking. Then turn them over again to cook for about another minute or so. About 3 minutes per side.
• Arrange dinner plates with a tablespoon of warm basil pesto sauce in the center of each plate.
• Lay 3 or 4 scallops on each plate. Optional: Add fresh cracked pepper on top.
• Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve.
• Serves 3 to 4 ( with 3 or 4 scallops per serving)

LEMON ORZO WITH SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water, then drain. Transfer the orzo to a large bowl and add 2 tablespoons butter, the lemon zest, half of the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of the reserved pasta cooking water. Season with salt and pepper; toss, adding more pasta cooking water as needed to loosen. Cover to keep warm.
• Pat the scallops dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the scallops and cook until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until just cooked through, 1 to 2 more minutes. Transfer to a plate; cover to keep warm.
• Add the garlic to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until golden, about 10 seconds. Add the wine, 1/4 cup water and the remaining lemon juice. Cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the capers and the remaining 3 tablespoons butter; swirl to melt. Stir in the parsley.
• Add the arugula and tomatoes to the orzo; toss. Serve with the scallops and pan sauce.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH BASIL PESTO & MEDITERRANEAN ORZO

Steps:

• In a large non-stock skillet, heat ½ teaspoon of olive oil. Season the sea scallops with salt and pepper. Heat the pan over high heat; add in the scallops and cook for 1 minute on each side, flipping once, or until the scallops are cooked to your liking. In the meantime, cook the 1 cup of orzo according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. In a large straight-sided skillet, add in 1 Tablespoon of olive oil along with the crushed red pepper and the garlic. Cook, stirring often over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add in the spinach, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted. Add in the sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts. Toss the mixture with the cooked orzo and drizzle it with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. To serve, stir the pesto and put a dollop on each seared scallop. Serve the scallops over the orzo salad.

PAN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH A LIGHT PLUM TOMATO SAUCE AND A BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• In a saucepan add a touch of olive oil, plum tomatoes, 3 shallots and 4 cloves of garlic and cook until shallots are translucent. Add white wine and juice of 2 lemons. Bring to boil, reduce heat, let cook three minutes. Remove from heat and add all ingredients to blender and puree. This process may require being done in steps so that blender does not overflow. Strain pureed ingredients through chinoise, throw out pulp, reserve broth. Bring broth back up to at least 110 degrees. Place in a clean blender, add cubed butter with blender on high to emulsify, thicken sauce, season to taste.
• In a large pot bring to boil salted water and then cook pasta to al dente, refresh in ice bath and set aside. Toss in 1 tablespoon olive oil until ready to serve.
• In a blender, add 2 cloves of garlic, 1 shallot, basil, parsley and watercress, juice of the 1 remaining lemon, cover blender, turn on high. Slowly add 1 cup olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt -- add fresh cracked black pepper (a lot), briefly turn blender on. Transfer contents into a squirt bottle and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Place 1 saute pan over high heat until it smokes.
• In another saute pan place 1 teaspoon of olive oil, add 3 ounces of pasta, then 4 ounces of tomato sauce, check for seasoning of salt and pepper to taste.
• In smoking pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season scallops with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, then add to hot oil. Sear deeply until warm brown color turn each scallop over and finish in a 375 degree oven (for 3 minutes). In desired plate or bowl place pasta with sauce, when scallops are done arrange them on top of pasta. Liberally swizzle pesto over plate and garnish with purple basil sprig.

SCALLOPS WITH PESTO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Season scallops with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and add scallops. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Add pesto and capers; mix well. Stir in heavy cream and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and serve.