SAUTéED SCALLOPS WITH BROWN BUTTER AND PRESERVED LEMON
This is a unique way of cooking scallops that keeps them soft and pillowy. Poaching them in a nonstick skillet encourages gentle cooking, so rather than only tasting caramelization, you can taste the unique flavor of preserved lemon and the sea. (Note: Makes 4 appetizers or 2 main servings.)
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories main-dish
Time 20m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Cook until the foam subsides and the butter solids turn a deep, nut brown, about 5 minutes. Remove the seeds from the preserved lemon and finely dice.
- Add the rosemary branches and chopped garlic to the butter and cook 30 seconds. Add the scallops, preserved lemon and a large pinch of salt. Lower the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring, until scallops are just opaque, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the scallops carry over off the heat for a few minutes.
- Season with additional salt, as needed, and pepper. Squeeze lemon juice over scallops and serve with chopped fresh herbs if you like.
SAUTéED SCALLOPS WITH ASPARAGUS PURéE
This elegant, simple recipe is perfect for special occasions and weeknight dinners alike. Briny-sweet scallops are quickly seared, then served on a velvety emerald swath of asparagus purée for springtime flare. Keep the asparagus tips intact for texture, and follow Michael Ruhlman's tricks to bring out the vegetable's bright green hue.
Provided by Michael Ruhlman
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Asparagus: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Salt the water generously (make it as salty as seawater). Trim the woody ends from asparagus and discard; then submerge asparagus in the boiling water. Cover with lid just until the water comes back to a boil, then uncover and cook until al dente (tender but with just a little crunch), 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice water.
- Asparagus are done when they bend without snapping. Use a spider strainer to transfer them to the ice bath; submerge and stir to immediately stop the cooking. Reserve cooking water (to thin purée). Cut asparagus tips and reserve for garnish. Cut stalks into 2-inch pieces and set aside.
- Place asparagus stalks in the blender and cover with lid; pulse a few times. Remove the smaller cap in the lid and turn blender to medium speed. Ladle in a slow stream of cooking water (about ½ cup) to help the asparagus purée. Use caution, as the water and purée are hot! Replace the cap, then purée on high speed. When the purée is smooth, strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl to remove any fibrous strands. Salt the purée to taste and set aside.
- Scallops: Place scallops on paper towels in an even layer and pat dry; this is an important step to get a nice sear. Pull off and discard any tough side-muscles (their fibers run against the grain of the rest of the scallop). Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, then add oil. (Add more as needed to coat the bottom of the skillet.) When the oil begins to ripple, add scallops in an even layer without crowding. Let cook undisturbed, 60-90 seconds. Scallops are ready to flip when they are evenly caramelized and no longer stick to the skillet. Before flipping, sprinkle with sea salt. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the asparagus purée.
- When scallops are golden brown on the first side, they should release easily from the skillet. Using a small offset spatula, flip each scallop to sear the second side; continue sautéing, 30-45 more seconds, depending on size. Remove scallops to a paper towel-lined plate and let rest while finishing the sauce.
- Add half of the asparagus tips to the warmed purée. Add butter, then swirl the saucepan continuously until all the butter has melted and emulsified into the purée to make a rich sauce.
- Immediately before serving, add the lemon juice to the asparagus sauce and stir to combine; taste and adjust seasoning. Divide the sauce among plates or large bowls, then place the scallops on the sauce. Garnish with remaining asparagus tips and serve immediately.
SAUTEED SCALLOPS WITH VEGETABLES
Provided by Andrea Webster
Categories Tomato Sauté Quick & Easy Wheat/Gluten-Free Vinegar Scallop Carrot Fall Cilantro Bon Appétit Washington, D.C.
Yield Serves 2
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add green onions, carrot and garlic and sauté until carrot is crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer mixture to plate. Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in same skillet over medium heat. Season scallops with salt and pepper. Add scallops to skillet and cook until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Return sautéed vegetable mixture to skillet. Add tomato, cilantro, lemon juice and vinegar. Simmer until scallops are just cooked through, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes.
PAN-SEARED SWORDFISH STEAKS WITH SHALLOT, CAPER, AND BALSAMIC SAUCE
Categories Sauté Quick & Easy White Wine Shallot Swordfish Gourmet
Yield Serves 2
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Pat swordfish dry and season with salt and pepper. In a heavy skillet heat butter and oil over moderately high heat until foam subsides and sauté shallots with salt to taste, stirring, 1 minute. Push shallots to side of skillet. Add swordfish and sauté until golden, about 3 minutes. Turn fish over and add wine, vinegar, capers, and water. Simmer mixture 3 minutes, or until fish is just cooked through.
- Transfer fish to 2 plates and stir parsley into sauce. Spoon sauce over fish.
LOBSTER WITH BABY VEGETABLES
Steps:
- Cook all the vegetables (except the mushrooms) separately in salted boiling water until crisp-tender and then chill them. Saute the mushrooms without butter for a few minutes until tender. Set all the vegetables aside until almost ready to serve.
- Place the lobsters in a tight-fitting heatproof container. Cover with cold water. Drain off the water, measure it, and place the water into a large pot. Bring the water to a boil and add 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar per 8 quarts water. Pour the boiling liquid over the lobsters and let them steep for 2 minutes if using 1 1/2-pound lobsters and 3 minutes if using 2-pound lobsters. Remove the lobsters from the hot water.
- Using a towel or rubber gloves, hold the lobster body, and remove the lobster tail by twisting it and detaching from the body by lightly pulling on it. Remove the claws the same way, and place the claws back into the hot water. Set the body on a plate. Repeat with the other lobster.
- Hold each piece of tail meat flat and twist the tail fan from one side, pull off and discard. Using your fingers, gently push the meat through the tail and pull the meat out through the large opening at the other end. Discard the shell or keep it for stocks and bisques. Lay the tail meat on the rounded side and halve it lengthwise through the middle. Remove the vein that runs through the top of the meat. Lay the meat on a paper towel-lined plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.
- Remove the claws from the water. Twist off each knuckle and reserve. Hold each claw and pull down on the smaller portion of the claw to loosen it and remove it from the larger part of the claw, keeping the meat intact and attached. Still holding the claw, crack the top of the shell with the heel of the knife where the knuckle was attached. Go through the shell but not deep enough to damage the meat. Wiggle the knife to crack the shell. If the shell does not pop off, it may be necessary to turn the claw over and repeat the procedure. Shake the claw meat to remove the meat (if it doesn't fall out, cut off the very tip of the shell and blow through the hole to release the meat). Place claw meat on the plate with the tail meat. Repeat with remaining claws.
- Cut off the top joint of each knuckle, the one that was attached to the lobster's body. Use scissors to cut away the shell along the smooth outside edge of the knuckle. Use your fingers to pry open the shell and remove the meat. Place the knuckle meat on the plate with the tail meat.
- For the lobsters, bring the lobsters to room temperature. Place them in 1 layer in a large saucepan with the melted butter. Over low heat, poach the lobster meat for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Slice the lobster pieces into thick slices all about the same size. In a saucepan, heat 1 teaspoon of the poaching butter and add the shallots. Add the vinegar and reduce to almost dry. Add the wine and reduce by 3/4. Add the cream and reduce by 2/3. Add the lobster pieces to the pan and saute for 1 minute. Add the Cognac to the pan and keep the pan warm. Adjust seasonings, if necessary.
- In a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the poaching butter. Saute the cooked vegetables with salt and pepper until just heated through and divide the vegetables evenly between 4 plates.
- Remove the lobster pieces from the Cognac sauce and plate on top of the vegetables, divided evenly. Strain the sauce over the lobster and vegetables. Garnish with basil and chives.
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