Seared Scallops With Fennel Food

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat; pat scallops dry and season with salt and pepper.
• Cook scallops on one side until browned, 2 to 3 minutes; transfer to a plate.
• Add fennel and onion and season with salt and pepper; cook until tender, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in clam juice, wine, and tomatoes and cook until enough liquid evaporates to slightly thicken, 6 to 8 minutes more.
• Return scallops, browned side up, and cook through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rub baguette slices with garlic and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
• Sprinkle scallops with reserved fennel fronds and serve with baguette slices.

CAJUN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH ROASTED ONION AND FENNEL CONSOMME

Steps:

• For the broth: In a sauce pot, melt butter. Add onion and caramelize. Set aside. To sauce pot, add sliced fennel and sweat until very soft. Next, add carrot, bay leaves, Juniper berries, thyme, caramelized onion, and broth. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for approximately 1 hour. Strain through a cheesecloth. Season with salt and pepper. In a strainer, add julienned vegetables to broth. Simmer for 3 minutes. Reserve vegetables and broth separately.
• For the dish: Dredge the scallops in the Cajun spice. Sear in olive oil on all sides on high heat until scallops are just cooked through. Place half of the scallops in a circle in the middle of a 9 inch bowls.
• In the middle of the circle, place julienne vegetables. Spoon warm broth gently over vegetables until bowl is filled by one-third. Garnish with asparagus tips and roasted garlic cloves. Finish garnish with fennel tops. Repeat with other bowl.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH RED CHILE PASTE AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Using the side of a chef's knife, mash chiles, grapefruit zest, and 1/4 tsp. salt to a paste on a cutting board. Set chile paste aside.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over high until lightly smoking. Season scallops with salt; working in 2 batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, cook until edges begin to brown, about 1 minute. Transfer scallops to a platter, browned side up, and swipe some reserved chile paste on each.
• Toss fennel bulb with vinegar in a medium bowl to coat; season with salt.
• Pour grapefruit juice over scallops and top with fennel salad and fennel fronds; drizzle with olive oil.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH FRESH FENNEL SALAD AND KUMQUAT-TARRAGON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Puree oil, kumquats, and tarragon in processor. Add vinegar, orange juice concentrate, and mustard; process until just combined. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing.)
• Combine fennel, radicchio, and green onions in large bowl. Add 3/4 cup vinaigrette; toss to combine.
• Sprinkle scallops with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add 12 scallops and sauté until golden on both sides and just opaque in center, about 3 minutes total. Transfer sautéed scallops to large plate, then tent with foil. Repeat with remaining butter and scallops.
• Divide salad among 8 plates. Place 3 scallops on top of each. Drizzle scallops with remaining vinaigrette and serve.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH FENNEL PUREE

Steps:

• Sear scallops If necessary, remove the small, tough muscle (called the adductor) found on the side of the scallops (often the fishmonger will have removed it), then slice each scallop in half horizontally so that you have twelve pieces. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Season scallops on both sides with salt. When pan is hot, add enough oil to coat bottom of pan (about 1 tablespoon), and swirl to coat evenly. Working in batches to avoid crowding pan, add scallops and quickly jerk the pan to keep them from sticking. Sear until lightly golden, about 45 seconds; with an offset spatula, turn over and cook until opaque throughout, about 30 seconds more (be careful not to turn too soon or the scallops may tear). Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels and cover to keep warm (if necessary). Repeat with more oil and remaining scallops.
• Serve Heat fennel puree in a small saucepan over medium heat until warm. Spoon 1 tablespoon puree onto each of 12 small plates and top with a scallop slice. Garnish with fennel fronds, and serve.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH GRAPEFRUIT-FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Heat butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Pat scallops dry and add to the hot pan; sear until caramelized, 6 to 7 minutes, flipping halfway.
• While scallops are cooking, peel, skin, and slice grapefruit. Slice fennel thinly, reserving a few fronds. Place grapefruit, fennel, fronds, and spinach in a large bowl.
• Prepare dressing by mixing remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, shallot, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl.
• Add seared scallops to the salad and mix to combine. Drizzle dressing over top.