Seared Scallops With Cauliflower And Asparagus Recipes

SCALLOPS WITH CAULIFLOWER PUREE

Steps:

• Prepare the scallops by patting with a paper towel and placing on a plate, uncovered, in the fridge till ready to use. This allows them to get really dry while you prep the cauliflower.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place cauliflower florets and garlic cloves in a single layer on a sheet pan, tossing with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile heat olive oil and butter (or ghee) in a large skillet or cast iron pan on medium high heat. Get the pan hot (but not smoking) so you'll get a nice sear right away. Space the scallops out so they sear and don't steam, even if it means cooking in batches. Sprinkle the scallops with pepper but hold off on the salt to taste - I personally don't season mine as I find them naturally salty.
• Add the scallops and don't touch them for 1 1/2-2 minutes. Check one to see if a nice brown crust has formed. If so, turn and leave them for about 60-90 seconds more. Remove scallops from pan and set aside.
• Meanwhile, toss the roasted cauliflower and garlic into a food processor or blender. Add warm milk and blend, using a tamper to press down and get it nice and smooth. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
• Spoon the cauliflower puree onto a plate and place scallops on top. Garnish with parsley. See the recipe notes for an extra sauce idea!

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH PARSLEY AND SCALLION PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, adding salt until it tastes like seawater. Meanwhile, set a colander in a large bowl of ice water. Add the parsley to the boiling water and cook 1 minute, then remove with a slotted spoon. Immediately plunge the parsley into the ice bath and allow to cool, 3 to 5 minutes. Keep the water at a rolling boil.
• Drain the parsley slightly and put it in a blender (reserve the ice water). Add the sugar and olive oil and blend until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add a little water. Taste for seasoning. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the scallions; set aside.
• Prepare the asparagus: Add the asparagus to the pot and cook until crisp-tender and bright green, about 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to the ice water to cool. Drain and pat dry. (The pesto and asparagus can be made up to 4 hours ahead; cover and refrigerate.)
• Cook the scallops: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. When the oil begins to smoke slightly, season the scallops with salt and pepper and add to the pan. Cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium, then add the shallots and garlic and cook until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the vermouth and cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and virtually all of the liquid has evaporated. Add the asparagus and toss until warmed through.
• Arrange the scallops and vegetables on plates. Squeeze some lemon juice directly over the scallops. Top with the pesto.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH JALAPENO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place jalapeno, rice vinegar, olive oil, and Dijon mustard in a blender. Puree on high until mixture is completely liquefied, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
• Season scallops with sea salt and cayenne pepper. Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over high heat. Place scallops in skillet and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Garnish scallops with orange segments and drizzle jalapeno vinaigrette over the top.

BISTRO ZIN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER AND TANGERIN

Steps:

• Sauté cauliflower with 2 tablespoons canola oil over medium heat for about 15 minutes, until al dente. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Reduce wine with shallots, bay leaf and peppercorns until 2 tablespoons of liquid remain. Add orange juice and reduce by half. Strain liquid and whisk in butter. Season with salt and pepper.
• Wash frisee in cold water and drain. Mix frisee, tangerine segments, grapefruit segments, cooked peas, chives, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.
• Season scallops with salt and white pepper. Sear over high heat with 2 tablespoons canola oil for 2 minutes on each side. Let rest for 2 to 3 minutes after cooking.

SCALLOPS WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Trim asparagus, then cut stems into 1/4-inch-thick diagonal slices, leaving tips whole.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté asparagus, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate, reserving skillet off heat (do not clean).
• Pat scallops dry and sprinkle with pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet and heat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté half of scallops, turning over once, until browned and just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes total. Transfer scallops with tongs to another plate as cooked.
• Wipe out skillet with paper towels, then add remaining tablespoon oil and heat until hot but not smoking. Sauté remaining scallops, turning over once, until browned and cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes total, transferring to plate. (Do not wipe out skillet after second batch.)
• Carefully add wine and vinegar to skillet (mixture may spatter) and boil, scraping up brown bits, until liquid is reduced to about 2 tablespoons, about 1 minute. Add any scallop juices accumulated on plate and bring to a simmer.
• Reduce heat to low and whisk in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until incorporated.
• Add asparagus and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until heated through, about 1 minute.
• Serve scallops topped with asparagus and sauce.

SIMPLY SEARED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Pat sea scallops dry with paper towels. Season with some lemon juice, salt, and pepper on one side.
• Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over high heat. Place scallops in the skillet seasoned-side down. Cook until browned on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Season with remaining lemon juice, salt, and pepper; flip. Continue cooking until opaque, about 2 minutes more. Garnish with lemon zest.

SAUTéED SCALLOPS WITH ASPARAGUS PURéE

Steps:

• Asparagus: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Salt the water generously (make it as salty as seawater). Trim the woody ends from asparagus and discard; then submerge asparagus in the boiling water. Cover with lid just until the water comes back to a boil, then uncover and cook until al dente (tender but with just a little crunch), 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice water.
• Asparagus are done when they bend without snapping. Use a spider strainer to transfer them to the ice bath; submerge and stir to immediately stop the cooking. Reserve cooking water (to thin purée). Cut asparagus tips and reserve for garnish. Cut stalks into 2-inch pieces and set aside.
• Place asparagus stalks in the blender and cover with lid; pulse a few times. Remove the smaller cap in the lid and turn blender to medium speed. Ladle in a slow stream of cooking water (about ½ cup) to help the asparagus purée. Use caution, as the water and purée are hot! Replace the cap, then purée on high speed. When the purée is smooth, strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl to remove any fibrous strands. Salt the purée to taste and set aside.
• Scallops: Place scallops on paper towels in an even layer and pat dry; this is an important step to get a nice sear. Pull off and discard any tough side-muscles (their fibers run against the grain of the rest of the scallop). Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, then add oil. (Add more as needed to coat the bottom of the skillet.) When the oil begins to ripple, add scallops in an even layer without crowding. Let cook undisturbed, 60-90 seconds. Scallops are ready to flip when they are evenly caramelized and no longer stick to the skillet. Before flipping, sprinkle with sea salt. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the asparagus purée.
• When scallops are golden brown on the first side, they should release easily from the skillet. Using a small offset spatula, flip each scallop to sear the second side; continue sautéing, 30-45 more seconds, depending on size. Remove scallops to a paper towel-lined plate and let rest while finishing the sauce.
• Add half of the asparagus tips to the warmed purée. Add butter, then swirl the saucepan continuously until all the butter has melted and emulsified into the purée to make a rich sauce.
• Immediately before serving, add the lemon juice to the asparagus sauce and stir to combine; taste and adjust seasoning. Divide the sauce among plates or large bowls, then place the scallops on the sauce. Garnish with remaining asparagus tips and serve immediately.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CABBAGE AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Heat 4 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add leek; cook until soft, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in cabbage, and add stock. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is slightly soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, and season with pepper. Set aside.
• Sprinkle scallops with 1/4 teaspoon salt, and season with pepper. Heat remaining 4 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add scallops; cook, turning once, until dark golden, about 4 minutes per side.
• Divide cabbage mixture among four plates, and top each serving with 3 scallops. Garnish with lemon.

SEARED SCALLOPS AND ASPARAGUS WITH ASIAN CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Finely chop peppercorns in processor. Cook sake, shallots, ginger, vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon chopped peppercorns in small saucepan over medium heat until liquid is reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 15 minutes. Add cream; simmer until liquid coats spoon, about 6 minutes. Strain into another small saucepan.
• Cook asparagus in saucepan of boiling salted water 2 minutes. Drain. Refresh under cold water; drain. Sprinkle remaining chopped peppercorns over both sides of scallops. Season with salt.
• Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add scallops; cook until golden and almost cooked through, turning occasionally, about 4 minutes. Add asparagus; sauté until scallops are cooked through and asparagus is hot, about 30 seconds. Arrange scallops on plates. Bring sauce to simmer. Spoon sauce around scallops. Garnish with asparagus. Sprinkle with chives.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CAULIFLOWER AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring pot of water to a boil. Add chopped cauliflower and whole garlic to water. Simmer until fork tender. Drain and remove from heat, mash until pureed. Add chives and yogurt, stir. Heat a grill pan over medium high heat. Drizzle olive oil over asparagus; salt and pepper. Grill until tender crisp. In saute pan, melt butter.Season scallops both sides with seasoning salt. Place in pan and don't move until they no longer stick to pan. Turn over and remove from heat. Heat of pan will continue cooking. Serve 1 cup cauliflower on plate. Top with asparagus; then scallops.