Seared Scallops With Red Chile Paste And Fennel Salad Food

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.

HERB AND SESAME SCALLOPS WITH ORANGE AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Combine parsley, thyme, sesame seeds, lemon zest, and fennel fronds. Season scallops with salt and pepper. Roll the sides of the scallops in herb mix. Coat a cast iron skillet or a nonstick pan with olive oil, about 2 tablespoons. Place scallops in hot skillet and sear about 2 minutes per side until the scallops are opaque and firm.
• Orange and Fennel Salad:
• Place the orange supremes and fennel into a bowl. Zest and juice the lemon over the orange and fennel. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Toss gently and place onto serving plates.
• Place seared scallops on top.

RED CHILE CRUSTED SEA SCALLOPS WITH MANGO TORTILLA SALAD AND CITRUS VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the Scallops: Combine ancho, cumin, salt and pepper in a medium shallow bowl. Heat oil in a large saute pan until smoking. Dredge 1 side of each scallop in the spice mixture. Place the scallops in the heated pan, chile side down and cook for 20 seconds. Reduce the heat low, turn the scallops and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from pan and reserve.
• For the Blue Corn Tortilla Strips: Heat oil to 375 degrees F. Fry the tortilla strips in batches, remove to a plate lined with paper towels and season with salt.
• For the Salad: Place greens in a large bowl, drizzle with a few tablespoons of the vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Place the greens on a large platter. Arrange the scallops around the platter. Mound the fried tortillas in the center of the plate and garnish with the red and yellow peppers and cilantro. Drizzle everything with more of the vinaigrette and serve.
• Combine juices, basil and onion in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

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.

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.

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.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH ASIAN LIME-CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Soak skewers in water 30 minutes.
• Pound garlic, chile, and sugar to a fine paste with a mortar and pestle.
• Stir paste together with vinegar, fish sauce, water, and lime juice.
• (Alternatively, purée sauce ingredients together in a blender.) Pat scallops dry.
• Thread 4 on each skewer then brush both sides with oil (2 teaspoons total for 4 skewers).
• Season scallops with salt and pepper.
• Brush a 12-inch nonstick skillet with remaining teaspoon oil and heat over high heat until hot but not smoking.
• Sear scallops, turning over once, until just cooked through, about 6 minutes total.
• Serve scallops with sauce spooned over.
• Cooks' note: Sauce may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
• Bring to room temperature before serving.