Best Scallops And Cheddar Grits With Chorizo Recipes

CHEESE GRITS WITH SHRIMP AND CHORIZO

Steps:

• Cook chorizo in a heavy, medium-size skillet over medium heat until it is crisp, two or three minutes. Transfer chorizo to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Pour off all but a thin film of fat from the skillet.
• Bring a quart of water and a half teaspoon salt to boil in a medium saucepan. Slowly stir in grits. Reduce heat to low and cook about five minutes, whisking occasionally, until grits are thick and smooth. While grits are cooking, add a tablespoon of the butter to skillet and heat over medium-high until butter is foaming.
• Cook shrimp in butter until just pink, turning once, about three minutes. Stir in chorizo and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds longer. Stir remaining tablespoon butter and cheese into grits and season with salt and pepper. Spoon grits into four warmed bowls and top with chorizo and shrimp mixture. Sprinkle with chives, if desired. Serve immediately.

MAVERICK GRITS

Steps:

• Make grits:
• Bring water, salt, and 1 tablespoon butter to a boil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan. Whisk in grits and cook at a bare simmer, covered, stirring frequently, until grits are tender and thick, about 1 hour. Stir in cream and remaining tablespoon butter and remove from heat.
• Make topping 15 minutes before grits are done:
• Cook chorizo and ham in 1/2 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until ham is golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer chorizo and ham to a plate with a slotted spoon. Add 1/2 tablespoon butter to skillet and heat until foam subsides. Cook scallops until golden on both sides and just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer scallops to a plate with a slotted spoon. Add another 1/2 tablespoon butter to skillet and cook shrimp, turning, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in chorizo, ham, scallops, remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter, and remaining ingredients. Cook, stirring and scraping up any brown bits in skillet, until heated through, then season with salt and pepper.
• Serve topping over grits.

SCALLOPS WITH CHORIZO & HAZELNUT PICADA

Steps:

• To make the picada, put ½ tbsp oil in a small frying pan over a medium heat. After a few mins, drop a piece of the bread in - if it sizzles, reduce the heat a little and add all the bread in a single layer. Fry, turning frequently, until the bread is pale gold, then spread it out on kitchen paper to cool. Add the remaining oil to the pan, fry the garlic until golden and add to the bread.
• Toast the nuts until fragrant (they should smell toasted), then rub in a tea towel while still warm to remove the skins. Blitz the bread and garlic with the nuts, lemon zest and coriander in a food processor using the pulse button (you want a coarse mix). Mix in the vinegar, sherry and salt, and add lemon juice to taste.
• Look at the scallops to find a little white bit at the side - this becomes tough when cooked, so cut it off (watch our how to prepare scallops video). Pat the scallops dry with kitchen paper (they don't colour well if you fry them when they're wet) and brush with extra virgin olive oil.
• Fry the chorizo in a little oil in a small frying pan until well coloured all over with a slight crust.
• Meanwhile, heat another pan until searing hot, add a small glug of oil, then the scallops. Season and cook for about 30 secs each side - you want just a little colour. Divide the scallops between the four shells, add the chorizo and top with the hazelnut mixture and a knob of butter. Put under a hot grill until cooked through (mine took about 90 secs). Squeeze on a little more lemon juice and serve immediately.