SEARED SCALLOPS WITH BACON MARMALADE

Seared Scallops with Bacon Marmalade image

Sarah Simmons tops scallops with a sweet-and-spicy bacon-onion marmalade (which she also likes to spoon on grits). The creamy carrot puree served alongside gets its subtle heat from harissa, a North African chile paste. Slideshow: Great Recipes for Scallops Recipe from Food & Wine America's Greatest New Cooks

Provided by @MakeItYours

Number Of Ingredients 12

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Ingredients

1/2 pound cold thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
Cayenne pepper
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pound carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons harissa (see Note)
1/4 cup heavy cream
16 large sea scallops (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Steps:

In a medium cast-iron skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 6 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a plate. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Add the onion to the skillet and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden, about 25 minutes. Add the sugar and cook until the sugar is dissolved and the onions are glazed, about 2 minutes. Return the bacon to the skillet; season with cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Keep the bacon marmalade warm.
In a medium saucepan of salted boiling water, cook the carrots until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain well. In a food processor, combine the carrots with the butter and harissa and puree until smooth. Add the cream and pulse until incorporated. Season with salt and black pepper. Scrape the carrot-harissa puree into the saucepan; keep warm over very low heat.
Season the scallops with salt and black pepper. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the scallops and cook over moderately high heat until browned on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Turn the scallops and cook until just opaque throughout, about 1 minute longer. Transfer the scallops to plates and top with the bacon marmalade. Serve the carrot-harissa puree alongside.
Make Ahead: The bacon marmalade and carrot-harissa puree can be refrigerated separately overnight.
Notes: Harissa is a North African chile paste. It is available in jars and tubes at specialty food shops.
Suggested Pairing: Minerally, full-bodied white Burgundy