Seared Scallop Salad With Haricots Verts And Truffle Oil Food

SEARED SCALLOP SALAD WITH HARICOTS VERTS AND TRUFFLE OIL

Steps:

• ¬vinegar and shallot in small bowl. Gradually whisk in 1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper. Cook haricots verts in medium pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Refresh under cold running water. Drain. (Vinaigrette and haricots verts can be made 1 day ahead. Cover each and chill. Bring to room temperature before continuing.)
• Mix endive and 2 tablespoons vinaigrette in medium bowl; toss to combine. Let stand 20 minutes. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle scallops with curry powder. Add to skillet and cook 3 minutes; turn over and cook until almost opaque in center, about 2 minutes longer. Place 3 scallops around border of each plate. Using half of haricots verts for each plate, place 3 small bundles of haricots verts between scallops. Mound half of endive mixture in center of each plate. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over haricots verts and scallops. Drizzle 1 teaspoon truffle oil over each salad. Sprinkle salads with chives.
• *Available at Italian markets, specialty foods stores and some supermarkets.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH SWEET POTATO 'RISOTTO' AND CHANTERELLES TRUFFLE-HARICOT VERTS SALAD

Steps:

• It is important that the sweet potato 'risotto' dice are all the same size. Traditional risotto cooking technique is used. In a 2 quart casserole, first saute the shallots in butter and season. Add the sweet potato and saute. Slowly add the hot chicken stock, one ladle at a time. Only add more stock after the previous ladle is fully absorbed. Continue adding stock until the 'risotto' gets creamy, but not mushy. The individual grains of 'risotto' should remain distinct.
• Season the scallops with salt and pepper. In very hot saute pan, coat with oil and sear the scallops until brown. Flip scallops and brown other side. Total cooking time should be about 8 minutes. Wipe pan out, return to high heat, coat with canola oil, add garlic and ginger and saute until soft. Add chanterelles and season. Cook for about 6 to 8 minutes.
• HARICOTS VERTS SALAD: In a stainless steel bowl, mix lemon juice, truffle oil and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Toss vinaigrette with the haricots verts. Check for seasoning. Garnish with chives.
• FUNKY SWEET POTATO GARNISH: Wrap the sweet potato hair around a slice of purple potato. In a 300-degree fryer, fry until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Salt to taste and drain well.
• PLATING: Using a ring mold or pvc pipe, fill bottom third with the hot chanterelles, then cover with 'risotto.' Place in the center of a plate. Surround with scallops and top with haricot verts salad. Garnish with truffle oil, chive batons and funky garnish.

SEARED SEA SCALLOPS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, oregano, thyme and lemon pepper. Roll scallops in flour mixture until lightly coated on all sides.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet or frying pan over high heat. Add 4 scallops to the pan and sear on all sides (about 2 minutes for each side). After turning scallops, add 1 tablespoon parsley and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Remove scallops from pan and place on a plate in the oven to keep warm until ready to serve.
• Repeat until remaining scallops are cooked, tossing each batch with parsley and lemon juice.

WARM SALAD OF SEARED SCALLOPS, HARICOTS VERTS, AND BELL PEPPERS IN WALNUT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a saucepan of boiling salted water boil haricots verts until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain beans in a colander and refresh in cold water to stop cooking. Pat beans dry and wrap in a kitchen towel. Beans may be prepared 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
• Remove tough muscle from side of each scallop if necessary. Halve scallops horizontally and pat dry. Season scallops with salt and pepper.
• In a non-stick skillet large enough to hold scallops in one layer heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté scallops until golden, about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer scallops with a slotted spoon to a large bowl.
• In skilled heat 1 tablespoon remaining olive oil until hot but not smoking and sauté bell peppers, stirring, until crisp-tender. Transfer bell peppers with slotted spoon to bowl with scallops.
• In skillet cook shallots in 1 tablespoon remaining olive oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened. Add vinegar, sugar, walnut oil, remaining olive oil, and salt to taste and simmer 1 minute. Remove skillet from heat and let vinaigrette cool 5 minutes.
• Divide radicchio among 8 plates. Add beans and vinaigrette to scallop mixture and toss gently. Divide salad among plates and sprinkle with walnuts.