Seared Scallops In Ponzu Sauce Food

SEARED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Remove the small side muscle from the scallops, rinse with cold water and thoroughly pat dry.
• Add the butter and oil to a 12 to 14-inch saute pan on high heat. Salt and pepper the scallops. Once the fat begins to smoke, gently add the scallops, making sure they are not touching each other. Sear the scallops for 1 1/2 minutes on each side. The scallops should have a 1/4-inch golden crust on each side while still being translucent in the center. Serve immediately.

GRILLED PONZU MARINATED SCALLOP LOLLIPOPS

Steps:

• Preheat a cleaned, oiled grill.
• In a bowl, mix together the minced lemongrass, scallions, ponzu, peppercorns, sugar, and soy. Add the scallops and marinate for 8 minutes before cooking.
• Remove scallops and lay them on a flat surface. Skewer each one with the soaked lemongrass. Season lightly with salt and on the hottest part of the grill cook the scallops for only 1 minute a side.
• If available, lay out washed whole scallions and lemongrass stalks on a plate in a fan shape. Top with "lollipops".
• Beverage: Veuve Clicquot Blanc de Blanc or DVX

SEARED SCALLOP SALAD WITH PONZU SAUCE

Steps:

• PONZU SAUCE:.
• Put bonito flakes, stock, lime juice, soy sauce, and mirin in a small saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool, then strain sauce, discarding solids, and set aside.
• THE SALAD:.
• Heat 1 tablespoons of the oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add corn, and sauté until lightly golden, about 5 minutes, then transfer to a large bowl.
• Add tatsoi, scallions, and cilantro leaves to the bowl, and toss with 8 tablespoons of the reserved ponzu sauce.
• Divide salad among four plates.
• Pat scallops dry with paper towels, then rub with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and season with ground fennel and salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat the same medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add scallops, and sear (working in two batches, if necessary, to avoid crowding the skillet) until lightly browned, about 1 1⁄2 minutes per side.
• Arrange scallops around salad, 4 per plate, then drizzle salad with remaining ponzu sauce.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH PAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut 2 tablespoons of the butter into pea-sized pieces, put it on a small plate, and stick it in the freezer. Heat a large skillet over medium-heat high for 3 or 4 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the olive oil and wait for the butter to melt.
• Pat the scallops dry with paper towels, add them to the pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper; work in batches if necessary to avoid crowding the skillet. Cook, turning once, until they are well browned on both sides but not quite cooked through, 2 minutes per side (less if the scallops are under 1 inch across; more if they're over). Transfer the scallops to a plate.
• Stir in the garlic, lemon juice, and wine and scrape all the brown bits off the bottom of the skillet with a spatula. Lower the heat to medium and cook until the liquid in the skillet thickens, a minute or two, then whisk in the butter you chilled in the freezer, one bit at a time, to make a creamy sauce, adding another tablespoon or two of liquid if necessary.
• Return the scallops to the skillet and add the chives. Adjust the heat so the sauce bubbles gently and toss to coat the scallops with the sauce. To serve, transfer the scallops to a platter and spoon the sauce over all.
• Variation:
• Seared Scallops With Cherry Tomatoes and Basil: Skip the lemon juice. Cut 1 pint cherry tomatoes in half. Add the tomatoes with the garlic and wine and cook until they wrinkle a bit and release their juice, 2 or 3 minutes. Use chopped fresh basil leaves instead of chives.
• Cooks' Notes
• Releasing From The Pan: The scallops will offer no resistance when they're ready to turn. Press down gently while the scallops cook to encourage full contact with the pan, then listen for a hiss: That's moisture heating and evaporating.
• Getting A Good Sear: The idea is to brown the scallops well on both sides without overcooking them, so keep the heat as high as you can without creating too much smoke.
• Building Sauce With Butter: After you add the liquid and deglaze the pan, the addition of butter develops fantastic creaminess and richness.
• Finishing The Dish: As soon as the scallops are cooked through completely and coated with the sauce, remove the pan from the heat; they will continue to cook. Nick-and-peek into one if you need to check for doneness.