Pan Fried Scallops With Cauliflower Purée Capers And Lemon Food

SCALLOPS WITH CAULIFLOWER PUREE, PARSLEY, AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Put cauliflower, shallot, stock, a pinch of salt, and 1 cup water into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is soft, 15 to 18 minutes. Working in batches, puree in a food processor, filling no more than 2/3 full each time. Season with salt and pepper. Cauliflower puree can be refrigerated up to 2 days; reheat over low heat until warm, stirring occasionally.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Toss Jerusalem artichokes in a medium bowl with about 1 teaspoon oil and a pinch of salt, separating rounds with your fingers. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until light golden brown and crisp, 10 to 20 minutes, checking often and transferring slices to a plate as they brown. Set plate above or near oven to keep warm.
• Stir together parsley, chives, and capers in a small bowl. Pour in remaining 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons oil, and stir. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt; season with pepper. Set relish aside.
• Preheat broiler, with rack 6 inches from heat. Lightly brush a rimmed baking sheet with oil. Add scallops, and turn to coat. Toss with about 1/4 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Squeeze lemon over scallops. Broil until scallops are just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Spoon 1/2 cup cauliflower puree onto each of 4 plates, and top with 3 scallops. Drizzle with relish, and sprinkle with salt. Top with Jerusalem artichoke chips; serve.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CAULIFLOWER PUREE WITH WALNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Place the cauliflower and the vegetable stock in a sauce pan then bring to a simmer and cook for 8-12 minutes until the cauliflower is soft.
• Drain the cauliflower well, reserving the cooking liquid.
• Puree the cauliflower using either a handheld immersion blender, food processor or blender. Adding in a little cooking liquid until you have a constancy that you like.
• Season to taste and either divide it up between two covered plates or set aside until needed. (see note 2)
• First ensure the scallops are dry by patting them with paper towel to remove any moisture. Then leave them to sit on a sheet of paper towel.
• Place a heavy non-stick fry pan over a medium high heat and add the oil. Let the oil get smoking hot.
• Season the scallops lightly with salt. Then carefully and quickly add the scallops to the fry pan. Do them individually starting at 12 o'clock and working around the outside of the pan.
• Cook the scallops for 90 seconds on one side.
• Turn the heat off under the pan and add the butter and walnuts to the fry pan.
• Use tongs to gently turn each scallop over into the sizzling butter, again starting at 12 o'clock and working around in the same order you added the scallops. (see note 3)
• Once the butter has stopped sizzling, add 3 scallops to each plate and spoon over the walnut butter.
• Garnish with pomegranate arils and chopped oregano/parsley.
• Serve immediately.

PAN-FRIED SCALLOPS WITH CAULIFLOWER VANILLA PURéE

Steps:

• Put the cauliflower, milk, vanilla pod and its seeds into a small saucepan with a pinch of salt. Cover and simmer for 10 mins until the cauliflower is tender. Drain the cauliflower, reserving the milk and discarding the vanilla pod. Whizz the cauliflower until smooth in a food processor, adding a knob of butter, seasoning and enough reserved milk to make a nice, smooth consistency. This can be made up to a day ahead, then reheated in a pan or microwave.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cover a baking tray with a sheet of baking paper, lay the pancetta on top and cook for 8-10 mins until crisp. Drain on kitchen paper, drizzle with maple syrup and set aside until serving. 3 Fry the porcini in half the olive oil in a hot pan for about 4 mins until starting to brown. Keep warm.
• Heat the remaining oil and butter in a frying pan and season the scallops. Fry the scallops for 1-1½ mins on each side over a high heat until caramelised. To assemble, spoon the purée onto plates, top with porcini, scallops and pancetta, then sprinkle with chives.

PAN-FRIED SCALLOPS WITH PARSNIP PURéE & PANCETTA CRUMBS

Steps:

• To make the pancetta crumbs (which you can do up to a day ahead), set a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the pancetta and sizzle for 5 mins, turning, until coloured. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs into the pan and continue frying and stirring until browned and crisp. Blitz the mixture in a food processor to fine crumbs. Mix in the thyme and store in an airtight container if making ahead.
• To make the parsnip purée, tip the parsnips into a small saucepan with the milk and some seasoning. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 mins until the parsnips are tender. Purée the mixture in the food processor, then add the butter. Rub through a fine sieve into a clean saucepan, ready to reheat.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Season the scallops and lay them in a circle around the edge of the pan (see step 1). When the last scallop has been added, leave for 1 min until browned. Then, starting with the first scallop, gently turn (step 2). When all the scallops are cooked, transfer to a warm plate and quickly add the lemon juice to your hot pan, scraping the bottom to form a sauce and adding a splash of water if needed.
• Reheat the parsnip purée, then swipe onto 3 plates (step 3). Top with the scallops, pancetta crumbs and juices from the pan. Serve straight away.

SEA SCALLOPS WITH BROWN BUTTER, CAPERS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Pat scallops dry with paper towels, and season lightly with salt and pepper. Heat a large sauté pan or nonreactive skillet over medium-high heat, and add oil. After 30 seconds, add scallops; do not crowd pan, work in batches if necessary. Sauté until well browned, about 2 minutes, then turn and cook other side. When second side is dark golden, transfer scallops to a platter; cover and keep warm.
• Return sauté pan to heat, add butter, and cook until it begins to foam and turn golden. Add shallot and capers, sauté for 1 minute, then add lemon juice (being careful to avoid sputtering butter) and chopped parsley.
• To serve, place 3 scallops on each of 4 warmed plates. Spoon butter, shallots and capers over scallops, and serve.