PASTA WITH SAFFRON SHRIMP AND SCALLOPS

Pasta with Saffron Shrimp and Scallops image

Provided by Food Network

Time 2h5m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons finely minced shallots
1 large carrot, finely minced
1 stalk celery, finely minced
1 teaspoon saffron dissolved in 1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup fish stock (or 1/4 cup clam juice mixed with 3/4 cup chicken broth)
8 ounces (net weight) peeled and deveined shrimp, cut into 1 inch pieces
8 ounces scallops, "foot removed" and sliced horizontally
1 pound tomatoes, seeded and finely diced
1 pound black fettucine
1 cup thawed frozen petite peas, warmed in microwave oven

Steps:

The day before the party, make the base for the pasta seafood topping. Melt the butter in a skillet. When the foaming subsides, add the shallots, carrot and celery. Cover and cook over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until very tender and almost dissolved in butter. (If at any time the vegetables begin to stick to the skillet, add a tablespoonful of water or wine.) Uncover the skillet, add the saffron and white wine and boil over high heat until almost all of the wine has evaporated. Add the fish stock and simmer for 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper (do in advance up to this point.) Boil the pasta until al dente. While this is cooking, add the heavy cream to the skillet and simmer again until the sauce is slightly thickened. Add the shrimp and scallops and simmer just until the seafood is cooked through. Add the tomatoes and simmer just for a minute to warm them through without really cooking them. Adjust the seasoning. Drain the pasta and portion it out among 6 warm pasta bowls. Ladle the saffron seafood sauce over the top and garnish with warm microwaved peas.