Sauteed Scallops With A Spicy Piquillo Pepper Puree Food

CELERIAC PUREE

Steps:

• Peel and cut the celeriac into roughly 1-inch/2.5 cm pieces. Put the milk, lemon juice, and bay leaf in a large pot, pour over 8-cups/2 liters water. Add the salt, bring to a boil, and simmer until the celeriac is very tender.
• Drain, reserving 1 cup/250 ml of the liquid. Remove the bay leaf. Stir the butter and cream into the celeriac, then puree until very smooth in a blender, adding as much of the reserved cooking liquid as needed to achieve a soft, smooth consistency. Season with pepper and salt, and serve.

RED PEPPERS STUFFED WITH AUBERGINE PUREE

Steps:

• Make the aubergine puree by grilling the aubergines until the skins are charred and starting to blister which should mean that the pulp inside is soft. Leave to cool slightly then remove the skin by rubbing gently under cold water. In a blender or food processor liquidize with the olive oil and then blend in the garlic, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons parsley, salt and pepper. Pour the puree into a bowl.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the peppers in half, remove the stalk and seeds, brush the inside with the remaining olive oil and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes. A quarter of an hour before serving, fill the pepper halves with the aubergine puree, replace in the oven to warm through.
• After 15 minutes remove the peppers from the oven, sprinkle with remaining parsley and serve with plain toasted bread fingers.

SAUTéED SCALLOPS WITH CRUSHED PEPPERCORNS

Steps:

• Place scallops on baking sheet or large plate and season lightly on both sides with salt. Mix together crushed black, green and rose peppercorns and sprinkle liberally over scallops on both sides.
• Put oil in a skillet large enough to hold all scallops without crowding (or use two skillets or work in batches) over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add scallops in one layer.
• Let scallops brown on one side, about 3 to 4 minutes. (Don't rush or they will stick to pan and won't brown properly.) Add butter and sherry, turn scallops and sear until cooked through, about 2 minutes more. Remove scallops to a serving platter and keep warm.
• Finish the sauce: Leaving skillet over medium-high heat, add crème fraîche. Simmer until slightly thickened, 2 minutes, then taste for salt.
• Spoon sauce over scallops and sprinkle with lime zest, lemon zest and mint. Garnish with a few whole rose peppercorns.

SEA SCALLOPS WITH PIQUILLO PEPPERS

Steps:

• Turn the oven to 200 degrees. Warm the olive oil over medium-low heat in a skillet and add the garlic. When it sizzles, add the peppers and cook, turning only once, until they shrivel a bit, about 5 minutes. Season, transfer to a serving platter, and put in the oven.
• Wipe out the skillet or use another one; preheat it for a couple of minutes over high heat. Add a not-too-thin film of oil and add the scallops one at a time; brown them well on the first side for as long as 5 minutes, adjusting the heat so they don't burn (which on my stove translates as "leave the heat on high"), then turn and brown lightly on the second. They should be firm but still quite moist in the middle. Season with salt and pepper and put on top of the piquillos. Return to the oven.
• Lower the heat a bit, add the wine (it will spatter) and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to release any brown bits. Taste that sauce and add salt and pepper, if necessary, then spoon over the scallops and piquillos, garnish with herbs and serve with a spoon.

SPICY MANGO SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Pat scallops dry with paper towels. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add scallops; cook 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown and firm. Remove from pan., Add onion to same pan; cook and stir until tender. Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in pineapple juice. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Stir in chutney., Return scallops to pan; heat through, stirring gently to coat. Serve with rice; sprinkle with cilantro.

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.

SAUTéED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Place a large sauté pan or skillet over medium-high heat, and add to it 3 tablespoons of the butter. When it has melted and started to foam, place the scallops in the pan in a single layer, and season with a pinch or two of salt.
• Cook scallops without moving until the bottoms are golden brown, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then turn them over, add the wine and cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes.

SCALLOPS WITH SPICY GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in medium saucepan of boiling salted water 1 minute. Drain.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and garlic; sauté until mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Add onion; stir 1 minute. Add soy sauce, sake, hon-dashi and cayenne; simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat.
• Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in heavy medium skillet over high heat. Season scallops with salt and pepper. Add scallops to skillet and sauté until almost cooked through, about 3 minutes. Add asparagus and toss until heated through, about 1 minute. Add sauce and simmer 1 minute.
• Divide between 2 plates and serve.

SEA SCALLOPS WITH SWEET ROASTED RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler or prepare a charcoal grill.
• Place the peppers under the broiler or on the grill. Cook them on all sides until the skin is well charred. When cool enough to handle, split the peppers in half, core them and discard the charred skin and the seeds. Rinse in cold water. Pat dry with papers towels and cut them into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Remove and discard the ends of the snap peas.
• Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet and add the peas, cook and stir over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the scallops, the red peppers, shallots, garlic, thyme, pepper flakes, liqueur, butter, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring and tossing over high heat for 4 minutes or until the scallops are cooked through. Do not overcook. Sprinkle with the coriander.

SAUTEED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• In a medium size saucepan melt butter over medium-high heat. Add crushed garlic and whole sprigs of rosemary to the saucepan. Add scallops, cook for 2 minutes on each side (or until desired consistency). Remove the garlic and rosemary from pan. Serve.

SCALLOPS WITH PEA PURéE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the garlic, rosemary and oil. Place over medium-low heat until the oil starts to bubble. Turn off the heat and leave the mixture to infuse.
• Place peas in a large pan of lightly salted water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until peas are tender but still bright green, cooked slightly longer than usual. Drain, and transfer to a food processor. Add 1/4 cup of the infused oil (discard garlic and rosemary). Process until pureed, then return to the pan, cover, and keep warm.
• Season the cornstarch with salt and pepper to taste. Place a heavy skillet over medium heat and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the remaining oil. When the oil is hot, lightly dust the scallop halves with seasoned cornstarch, and add to the pan. Cook until browned, about 2 minutes each side.
• To serve, divide pea puree between two plates and add scallops. Serve immediately.