Sauteed Diver Sea Scallops With Sake Nage Recipes

SEARED DIVER SCALLOPS WITH CAPER-HONEY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a blender, combine the vinegar, capers, honey and about half of the dill and tarragon and blend until smooth. While blending, slowly add the olive oil to emulsify. Season with salt and pepper. Reserve at room temperature for finishing.
• Score the scallops by making 1/8-inch-deep crosshatches across the top side of each (like a checkerboard). Season with freshly cracked black pepper. Dry the scallops thoroughly on paper towels.
• In a medium saute pan, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat until it just begins to show ripples. Place the scallops scored-side down into the oil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the butter to the pan and flip the scallops over; cook for 1 more minute for medium rare. Season with salt.
• Place the scallops on a serving plate and spoon some of the caper-honey sauce over the top. Top with the remaining tarragon and dill.

SEA SCALLOPS A LA NAGE WITH JULIENNED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Cut the leeks in half lenghtwise and hold them under running water while flipping through the leaves to rinse out any sand. Cut the leaves 2 or 3 at a time into fine julienne. If the leaves are more than 4 or 5 inches long, fold them under to make them easier to julienne.
• Juluienne the carrots and turnip into 3- inch lenghts. The easiest way to do this is first to slice them with a benriner cutter (a Japanese slicer) and then with a chef's knife. Cut the celery stalk into 4-inch sections and julienne it as finely as possible. Combine the julienned vegetables, bouquet garni, and just enough water to cover- about a quart- in a 4-quart pot. Simmer gently, partially covered, for 15 minutes. Add the wine and simmer for 10 minutes more. Strain the vegetable broth, reserving the cooked vegetables and broth. About 10 minutes before you're ready to serve, put the cooked vegetables with 1/4 cup of the broth in a covered saucepan over low heat.
• Bring the remaining vegetable broth to a simmer in a saute pan just large enough to hold the scallop in a single layer. (If the pan is too large, there won't be enough liquid to cover.) Gently slide the scallops into the simmering broth. If there's not enough liquid to cover the scallops. Poach the scallops for 8 minutes. Spread 3/4 quarters of the julienned vegetables in shells. Carefully arrange the scallop on the vegetables.
• Add the chopped parsley to the simmering poaching liquid, season the liquid with salt and pepper, swirl in 1/4 cup tarragon butter and ladle enough over the fish to come about a third of the way up the sides of the fish. Arrange the rest of the julienne over the fish.

STEAMED SEA SCALLOPS OVER LEMON GRASS NAGE

Steps:

• Place all the nage ingredients in the bottom of a stainless steel steamer. Bring slowly to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, skimming off any impurities.
• Season the scallops with salt and pepper and place on the top part of the steamer. Cover and steam for 6 minutes. They should be slightly firm and medium rare.
• Divide the rice noodles among 4 serving bowls. Place 3 scallops on top and ladle some broth over and around the scallops.
• The scallops can also be served as a warm salad over greens with a citrus vinaigrette.

PAN SEARED DIVER SEA SCALLOPS ACCOMPANIED BY POTATO-CUCUMBER SALAD AND VERJUS DU PERIGORD

Steps:

• Wash, peel, and rewash potatoes. Cut off edges of potato to form a rectangle. Keep edges for cooking with the chicken stock. Slice potato length-wise in 1/4-inch slices. Do the same width-wise, forming 1/4-inch cubes when finished.
• Wash, peel, and rewash cucumbers. Cut cucumbers in half; scrape the seeds out with a spoon and cut in half one more time. Then cut into diced cubes the same size as potatoes. You should have equal amounts of potatoes to cucumbers.
• Reduce the chicken stock with the potato edges by 75 percent or until the potato edges until they are soft. Smash the potato edges to form a smooth puree.
• Blanch the potato cubes in salted water.
• Heat extra-virgin olive oil in a saute pan. Lightly sear the shallots and cucumbers. Add the cornichons and vinegar. Cook until everything is al dente, then stir in the chicken stock puree and potato cubes. Season with freshly ground pepper and salt.
• For the Parsley Butter: Place the butter in a food processor and blend until smooth. When the butter is smooth, add fresh Italian parsley. Blend the butter and the parsley together until the parsley emulsifies with the butter. Add a touch of salt. Cool mixture to preserve the green color and fresh taste of the parsley.
• For the Verjus du Perigord: Over medium heat, melt the sugar, and cook until caramelized and golden brown. Add the verjus and reduce the liquid to 1/3 the volume. Add the veal stock and reduce by 1/4. Remove the foam that accumulates on top of the stock. Add creme fraiche and blend with hand blender. Slowly add the extra-virgin olive oil to form an emulsion and hand blend again.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Over a low flame melt a little olive oil and butter in a pan. It is important to keep the temperature very low, so the butter remains brown and maintains a nutty flavor.
• Lightly sear the scallops until golden brown on both sides. After searing the scallops, remove them from the pan and place on a drying rack.
• Bake for 2 to 3 minutes (depending on the size). The scallops should be medium rare. Reheat the potato-cucumber salad and add the butter at the last minute to retain the color and freshness of the parsley. On a hot, oversized plate, place the potato-cucumber salad in the center of the dish. Place the scallops on top. Drizzle the tops of the scallops with warm verjus and serve.

DIVER SEA SCALLOPS WITH BRAISED ENDIVES AND A BROWN BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place endives in a stainless steel pot. Combine water, sugar, lemon juice with endives. Cover with a napkin or dish towel and bring to a boil. Simmer 20 minutes and remove endives. Strain cooking liquid and reserve. Let endives cool and cut into quarters lengthwise. Set aside. Heat a medium saute pan until very hot and add 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Season scallops with salt and pepper and quickly sear scallops for 3 minutes. Turn the scallops over and cook for 1 minute more. Remove. In another saute pan, add butter and let brown. Add balsamic vinegar, endive juice, salt, pepper, chopped herbs, and diced tomatoes. On 6 dinner plate, fan out 4 pieces of endives. Warm plates in oven for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove plates form oven and place scallops over endive and lightly nap with sauce. Serve immediately.

PAN SEARED DIVER SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Clean porcinis with a damp cloth. Remove caps from stems and slice. Trim outer part of stem with paring knife, slice, and set aside.
• Peel cipollinis and cut lengthwise. Carmelize in 2 tablespoons clarified butter and set aside.
• Heat oil on saute pan. Season scallops with salt and pepper. Sear until carmelized on both sides.
• Wash baby spinach and dry. Add butter to a small saute pan and melt. Add spinach and cook until wilted.
• Wash fingerling potatoes and slice thin using a mandolin or knife. Season with salt and pepper. Brown in 2 tablespoons clarified butter.
• Combine mushrooms, spinach and potatoes on center of plate. Top with scallops. Place onions around scallops and top it all off with Hot Bacon Vinaigrette.
• In a saucepot, render bacon. Add shallots and sweat. Add vinegar and reduce by 3/4. Add demi-glace and reduce by 1/2. Melt in whole butter slowly. Strain. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.