Pistachio Crusted Scallops Food

PISTACHIO-CRUSTED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons unsalted, shelled raw natural pistachios and cook, stirring often, until nuts are deeply toasted, about 2 minutes. Let cool. Chop pistachios. Place in a small bowl; toss with 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon, and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme. Season 8 large sea scallops (side muscle removed) with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon unsalted butter and 1 teaspoon grapeseed oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add scallops; sear until crusty brown, about 2 minutes per side. Roll scallops in pistachio mixture.

SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH PISTACHIO DRESSING

Steps:

• In a mortar, crush the anise seeds with 1/4 teaspoon salt and the garlic. Place pistachios and tarragon in a food processor and process until finely ground. Add anise mixture, oil, sherry and lemon juice. Process to a thick paste. Transfer to a small saucepan. Whisk in stock or water. Heat on low until tepid. Turn off heat.
• Heat a cast iron skillet or a griddle to very hot. Dry scallops. Brush a slick of oil on the pan, lower heat a bit and place scallops in the pan. Sear on medium-high until handsomely browned, 2 to 3 minutes. You'll know when the scallops have browned enough when they can be lifted with your spatula without ruinous sticking. Lightly dust scallops with salt, then turn them. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking until scallops are browned on the bottom and just cooked through, another 6 to 8 minutes. Meanwhile, gently warm the sauce. Whisk and add a smidgen of salt if needed.
• Spoon some of the sauce in the center of each of 4 warm dinner plates. Poise 3 to 4 of the scallops around the edges of the sauce pool and garnish with tarragon.

PAN SEARED PISTACHIO ENCRUSTED SCALLOPS OVER PAPAYA AND TANGERINE RISOTTO WITH A TRIPLE PEPPER SPROUT HASH

Steps:

• In a flat-bottomed saute pan, add the oil and heat. Roll outer edges of the scallops in the crushed pistachios. Sear in a hot pan for 1 minute (will give you a medium rare temperature). Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Spoon the risotto onto 2 plates. Top with the scallops and then the hash. Serve immediately.
• Begin by heating the vegetable stock and the cream in a medium size pan, and bring to a boil. In a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan, melt the butter then add the onion. Begin to sweat the onions and add the rice to the pot, stirring constantly to avoid sticking. Add the garlic and sweat. In 4-ounce increments, add the liquid to the rice, stirring constantly to avoid sticking until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat this process until the rice is "al-dente". Add the diced papaya and tangerine. Season it with the salt and pepper, to taste. The risotto should be firm and creamy.
• In a large skillet, add the oil and saute the peppers. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove from pan, and toss with sprouts. Serve.