Seared Scallops With Zucchini And Carrot Cakes Recipes

CARROT-ZUCCHINI CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.
• Mix sugar, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda in a bowl.
• Combine oil, eggs, carrots, and zucchini in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Beat in honey. Stir in sugar mixture gradually; beat on medium speed until batter is smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Divide batter evenly among prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack; allow to cool completely, about 25 minutes.
• Combine confectioners' sugar, pineapple, cream cheese, walnuts, butter, and vanilla extract in a large bowl; beat until frosting is smooth. Spread over cooled cakes and stack.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH ZUCCHINI AND CARROT CAKES

Steps:

• For the cream, combine sour cream, heavy cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, dill, scallions, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well.
• For the zucchini carrot cakes, twist the zucchini and carrots in a dry kitchen towel to remove excess moisture.
• Mix with the onion, corn, eggs and dill in a bowl. Whisk in the flour, salt and pepper. Let stand for 20-30 minutes.
• Heat the butter in a saute pan. Add the zucchini mixture by 1/4 cupfuls and saute until golden brown on both sides. Keep warm.
• For the scallops, pat scallops with paper towel to dry well. Sear in a hot skillet until golden brown on both sides. Season to taste.
• To assemble, place one vegetable cake on each plate and top each with 1 scallop. Top with the dill cream and finely chopped tomatoes.

SEA SCALLOPS WITH ZUCCHINI RIBBONS AND MINT-CHIVE OIL

Steps:

• Prepare an outdoor grill with a medium-high fire. If you're using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling. (Or you can use wooden toothpicks.)
• For the scallops: Slice the zucchini lengthwise on a mandoline into thin slices, about 1/8- inch thick. When you get to the seedy center, rotate the zucchini 1/3 turn and continue to shave slices until you hit seeds. Give the zucchini a final 1/3 turn and shave off the remaining slices. (You want to end up with the same number of zucchini slices as you have scallops.) Discard the seedy center. Wrap a zucchini ribbon around the circumference of each scallop. Thread 2 to 3 scallops per skewer or 1 per toothpick.
• For the dressing: Whisk the mint, chives, orange juice, 2 tablespoons oil, limoncello, salt, and cayenne in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Cut up the tomatoes, season them with salt and black pepper to taste, and divide them among 4 plates.
• Brush scallops with oil and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Grill, turning to cook both sides, until zucchini and scallops are cooked through and have distinct grill marks, about 8 minutes total. Divide the scallops evenly among the plates, drizzle scallops and tomatoes with the dressing, and serve hot or at room temperature.

PAN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CRAB SALAD AND CARROT PUREE

Steps:

• For the puree: In a small saucepot, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add the chopped carrots, and boil until soft. Strain the carrots and reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Place the carrots in a blender with the honey, and puree. Adjust the consistency with the reserved cooking liquid. Season with salt and pepper, and cool completely.
• For the syrup: In a saute pan, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels. Then chop the bacon and add it to a small saucepot with the maple syrup, and bring to a simmer. Reduce the syrup to a volume of 1 cup.
• If the syrup is very runny, thicken with a slurry of the cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water.
• For the crab salad: In a bowl, combine crab, apples, carrots, mayonnaise, lemon juice and onion, and mix gently. Season with salt and pepper.
• For plating: Sprinkle the scallops with salt and pepper. Heat a saute pan over high heat until smoking. Add the oil and then place the scallops in the pan. Sear until golden brown and the scallops release from the pan, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook for another minute. Add the butter to the pan and baste the scallops with the butter for about 1 more minute. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the scallops to rest.
• On each serving plate, drag a spoonful of carrot puree across the plate. Place 2 ounces of crab salad at the center of each plate. Trim the romaine leaves into a diamond and place on top of the crab salad. Place the seared scallop against the lettuce leaf and drizzle 1 ounce of the bacon syrup with some bacon pieces over the scallop. Garnish with the scallions and serve.

SEARED CURRIED SCALLOPS WITH ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Remove tough muscle from side of each scallop if necessary. Pat scallops dry and sprinkle with curry powder and salt and pepper to taste. Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sear scallops in 2 batches, adding another 1/2 tablespoon oil if necessary, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Transfer scallops to a plate.
• Add remaining tablespoon oil to skillet, then cook ginger and garlic over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add zucchini and salt and pepper to taste, then cook, stirring frequently, until crisp-tender, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Return scallops to skillet with any juices accumulated on plate and toss with zucchini just until heated through, about 1 minute.

SAUTEED SEA SCALLOPS WITH TOMATOES AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Halve each scallop crosswise, if 3/4 inch thick or more. Set aside.
• Trim the ends of the zucchini, and cut them into 1/8-inch slices.
• Drop the tomatoes into boiling water for about 10 seconds to loosen the skins. Remove skins and chop the tomatoes coarsely.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add the zucchini, salt and pepper. Cook about 2 minutes over high heat, stirring and tossing. Remove the zucchini to a plate, and keep them warm.
• In the same skillet, heat the remaining olive oil over high heat and saute the scallops about a minute. Season with salt and pepper while stirring and tossing.
• Add the butter, shallots and garlic. Cook briefly, add the tomatoes, and cook for a minute more. Add the zucchini, lemon juice and rosemary. Cook, stirring and tossing, for a minute over high heat. Blend well. Sprinkle with basil, and serve immediately.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH SWEET POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan, and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the sweet potatoes, cover, and steam until easily pierced with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and ginger slice. Cook and stir until the flour has turned golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the vegetable broth, brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat whisking constantly, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 10 minutes. Add the steamed sweet potatoes and simmer 5 minutes more.
• Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and ginger slice. Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Whisk in the milk and cook over low heat until hot.
• While the soup is reheating, season the scallops with salt and pepper. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat until it begins to brown. Cook the scallops in the hot butter until browned and crispy on the outside, but no longer translucent on the inside, about 3 minutes total depending on the size of the scallops.
• Ladle the soup into 4 bowls, and lay the scallops on top of the soup. Sprinkle with a little cayenne pepper to serve.

SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH SPICY CARROT COULIS

Steps:

• Make the coulis: Put carrots, garlic, onion, vinegar, cayenne, salt, honey and broth in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until carrots are very soft, about 15 minutes. Purée all ingredients thoroughly in a blender and strain if necessary - it should be very smooth. Taste, and adjust seasoning. Coulis should not be too thick, but rather similar to a thin milkshake. Keep warm if not made ahead.
• Prepare the scallops: Set 2 wide cast-iron skillets or a large griddle over medium-high heat. When pan is hot, film with olive oil. As oil heats and just before cooking, season scallops with salt and pepper on both sides. When oil is wavy, place scallops in pan without crowding. Leave scallops undisturbed to brown well and crisp on one side, about 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, until cooked through, but juicy. Place scallops browned side up on paper towels to blot bottoms.
• To serve, ladle about 1/4 cup warm coulis onto individual warmed dinner plates. Set scallops on top, browned side up. Sprinkle with cilantro, chives and sliced chiles. Serve with lime wedges.