Scallop Piccata With Sautéed Spinach Food

PAN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH LEMON CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium-sized bowl combine salt and hot water, stirring to dissolve the salt. Add ice water to cool the brine. Add scallops to the brine and let stand for 10 minutes. Line a sheet pan with paper towels, set aside.
• Drain the scallops, rinse under cold water, and then arrange in a single layer on the paper towel-lined sheet pan. Place another paper towel on top of the scallops and gently pat scallops. Remove as much surface moisture as possible for the best browning results when cooked.
• Allow scallops to sit for 10 minutes at room temperature before cooking.
• In a 12-inch saute pan or cast iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat until oil ripples and just begins to smoke.
• Sprinkle scallops lightly with salt on both sides.
• Place scallops into the hot pan without crowding. Gently press scallops with a spatula to make direct contact with the pan.
• Sear scallops without moving them, continuing to cook until bottoms are a rich golden brown, 3 to 3 ½ minutes.
• Add butter to the pan. Turn the scallops over and cook the second side. Use a spoon to baste the scallops with the butter, tilting the pan to collect the butter as needed.
• When the scallops are opaque in color and firm to the touch, about 1 to 2 minutes, turn off heat and transfer to a plate, do not discard pan.
• In the same pan used for cooking the scallops turn heat to medium. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant but not browned.
• Increase heat to medium-high and add wine. Simmer wine, stirring as needed until the wine is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
• Turn heat to high and add the chicken stock, lemon zest, lemon juice and capers to the pan. Cook until sauce is reduced by half, about ½ cup, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Turn off heat and whisk in Dijon mustard.
• Turn heat to medium and add scallops back to pan, cook until warm, 2 minutes.
• Taste sauce and season with salt and pepper as needed.
• Garnish scallops with chopped dill, chives and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

BAY SCALLOPS WITH SPINACH AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and lemon zest and cook, stirring constantly, for 20 seconds. Add the spinach and toss from time to time until wilted. Drain off the liquid and season with 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper. Keep warm.
• Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the scallops and sauté until just cooked through, about 1 minute. Remove the scallops from the pan and add the lemon juice and wine. Cook, scraping the bottom of the pan, for 15 seconds.
• Remove from heat, toss in the scallops and season with the remaining salt and pepper to taste. Place a mound of spinach in the center of 4 plates and surround with scallops. Serve immediately.

SCALLOP PICCATA WITH SAUTEED SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat a large cast iron skilled over high heat. Pat scallops dry with paper towels. Sprinkle salt and freshly ground black pepper over scallops. Add 1 tablespoon EVOO to pan; swirl to coat. Add scallops; cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned and done. Remove from pan and keep warm.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add chopped garlic to pan; cook 10 seconds. Add vermouth, scraping pan to loosen browned bits; cook 2 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Remove from heat. Add parsley, fresh lemon juice, butter and capers, stirring until butter melts. Pour sauce in a bowl.
• Heat remaining 2 teaspoons EVOO in pan over medium-high heath. Add spinach; saute 30 seconds or until spinach almost wilts. Drizzle sauce over scallops; serve with spinach.

SIMPLE SAUTEED SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat oil in a dutch oven over medium heat.
• Add garlic and cook until beginning to brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add spinach, and toss to coat.
• Cover and cook until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add lemon juice, salt and crushed red pepper.
• Toss to coat and serve immediately.

SAUTéED SCALLOPS WITH MUSHROOMS & SPINACH SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt a knob of butter in a frying pan. Once sizzling, add the mushrooms and fry for just a min or two before adding the spinach. Cook on a high heat for about 1 min, allowing the leaves to wilt and soften. Drain the leaves and mushrooms in a sieve or small colander set over a bowl, pressing them gently in the sieve to release the juices (the juices will provide the base for the sauce, so don't discard them). Keep warm to one side.
• Heat the oil in a separate clean frying pan. When very hot, add the scallops. Sauté for a couple of mins without disturbing them at all, then add a knob of butter to the pan. Turn the scallops, season with salt and pepper, then baste with the sizzling butter. Continue to cook for a further couple of mins until the scallops are ready.
• While sautéing the scallops, return the saved spinach juices to the pan the spinach and mushrooms were cooked in, then whisk in the remaining knob of butter to create the sauce. Season with salt and pepper and a grating of nutmeg.
• Now finish in style: Arrange spinach and mushrooms on plates or in bowls, sit the scallops on top, then spoon the nutmeg spinach sauce around.

SCALLOP PICCATA ON SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• Put a large pot of water on to boil.
• Sprinkle scallops on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and add the scallops; cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
• Cook spaghetti squash in an oven @ 450 degrees until mushy. Scoop pulp out when cool enough to handle.
• Whisk wine and clam juice in a small bowl until smooth.
• Cook garlic in the pan over medium-high heat, stirring often, until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the wine mixture; bring to a boil and cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, capers stir, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Return the scallops to the pan, add the spaghetti squash and cook, stirring gently, until heated through and coated with the sauce, about 1 minute. Stir in parsley and serve immediately.