Scallops With Mint Pesto Food

SCALLOPS WITH MINT PESTO

Steps:

• Make pesto: In a food processor, place mint, 1/4 cup oil, 3 tablespoons pine nuts, lemon juice, and garlic. Process until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes; thin with water if necessary. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pat scallops dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high. Cook scallops, on one side, until browned, about 3 minutes. Flip, and cook until opaque throughout, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer to serving plates; top with pesto and remaining pine nuts.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CREAMY BASIL PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Step 1 In a medium sized cast iron skillet or stainless steel pan heat to high heat. Season the scallops with kosher salt and ground black pepper.
• Step 2 Add oil and scallops to the pan. Sear 2 minutes on one side until golden brown and 1 minute on the other side. Remove to a serving plate.
• Step 3 Meanwhile, in a sauce pan heat cream over medium heat. Simmer until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Turn heat off and whisk in pesto.
• Step 4 Spoon pesto sauce over scallops and garnish with lemon zest and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

PASTA WITH PESTO AND SCALLOPS

Steps:

• In a large pot with boiling salted water cook fettuccini pasta until al dente. Drain. Stir in pesto sauce and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute onion and garlic in 3 tablespoons olive oil until soft. Add green bell pepper, mushrooms and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in dry white wine, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, and bring to a boil. Add scallops and toss for 2 minutes. Take care not to overcook the scallops, as they will toughen when exposed to prolonged heat.
• Toss the pesto covered pasta with the scallop sauce. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH MINT, PEAS, AND BACON

Steps:

• Place scallops on a paper towel-lined plate and pat very dry with additional paper towels. Season both sides with 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper total.
• Bring 1 cup water to a boil, covered, in a small pot. Add peas and 1/2 tsp. salt; cook until peas are bright green and tender, about 2 minutes for fresh and 4 minutes for frozen. Drain peas through a strainer set over a bowl; reserve cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, add bacon to a large skillet and heat over medium-high. Cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until fat starts to render, about 3 minutes. Add shallot and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly browned and bacon is crisp, about 3 minutes more. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon and shallot to a small bowl, reserving fat in skillet. Add 1/2 cup cooked peas to bacon mixture.
• Purée lemon juice, 1/8 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper, the remaining 1 1/2 cups peas, and 1/2 cup reserved pea cooking liquid in a blender. Add oil and pureé until smooth. Add 2 Tbsp. mint leaves and pureé until just combined but pieces of mint are still visible. Divide pea purée among 4 plates.
• Heat skillet with reserved fat over high until just barely smoking. Working in batches and adding more oil if necessary, sear scallops until a golden brown crust has formed and scallop releases from skillet, about 3 minutes per side. Top pea purée with scallops and bacon-pea mixture, then sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. mint.

SCALLOPS WITH PESTO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Season scallops with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and add scallops. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Add pesto and capers; mix well. Stir in heavy cream and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and serve.