PAN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CRAB SALAD AND CARROT PUREE

Pan Seared Scallops with Crab Salad and Carrot Puree image

Provided by Robert Irvine : Food Network

Time 1h5m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

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Ingredients

8 ounces carrots, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon honey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
5 strips bacon
1 1/2 cups maple syrup
1 tablespoon cornstarch, optional
1 pound crab claw meat
1/4 cup julienned apple
1/4 cup julienned carrot
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons diced red onion
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 scallops (size U8), dry pack
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
2 tablespoons butter
6 small leaves romaine heart
3 scallions, julienned

Steps:

For the puree: In a small saucepot, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add the chopped carrots, and boil until soft. Strain the carrots and reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Place the carrots in a blender with the honey, and puree. Adjust the consistency with the reserved cooking liquid. Season with salt and pepper, and cool completely.
For the syrup: In a saute pan, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels. Then chop the bacon and add it to a small saucepot with the maple syrup, and bring to a simmer. Reduce the syrup to a volume of 1 cup.
If the syrup is very runny, thicken with a slurry of the cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water.
For the crab salad: In a bowl, combine crab, apples, carrots, mayonnaise, lemon juice and onion, and mix gently. Season with salt and pepper.
For plating: Sprinkle the scallops with salt and pepper. Heat a saute pan over high heat until smoking. Add the oil and then place the scallops in the pan. Sear until golden brown and the scallops release from the pan, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook for another minute. Add the butter to the pan and baste the scallops with the butter for about 1 more minute. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the scallops to rest.
On each serving plate, drag a spoonful of carrot puree across the plate. Place 2 ounces of crab salad at the center of each plate. Trim the romaine leaves into a diamond and place on top of the crab salad. Place the seared scallop against the lettuce leaf and drizzle 1 ounce of the bacon syrup with some bacon pieces over the scallop. Garnish with the scallions and serve.