Scallops And Saffron Couscous Strudel Recipes

SCALLOP PAELLA

Steps:

• Cook half of onion with half of saffron in 1 tablespoon oil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to soften, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in couscous, then add water and 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed and couscous is al dente, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 10 minutes.
• While couscous stands, cook bell pepper and remaining onion in 2 teaspoons oil with 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and remaining saffron in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Pat scallops dry and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté 8 scallops, turning over once, until golden brown and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes total. Transfer to a plate and keep warm, loosely covered with foil. Wipe out skillet and heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil, then sauté remaining 8 scallops, transferring to plate.
• Heat a dry deep 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot, then cook mussels, covered, shaking skillet occasionally, until mussels just open wide, 3 to 5 minutes. (Discard any mussels that remain unopened after 5 minutes.) Transfer mussels to a bowl with a slotted spoon, then add clams to skillet and cook, covered, shaking skillet occasionally, until clams just open wide, 6 to 10 minutes. (Discard any clams that remain unopened after 10 minutes.) Add shrimp to clams along with chorizo, mussels, cooked vegetables, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring, until shrimp is just cooked through, about 1 minute. Stir in couscous, scallops, and peas until heated through.

SCALLOPS AND SAFFRON COUSCOUS STRUDEL

Steps:

• In a saucepan bring the water to a boil, stir in the couscous, 1 tablespoon of the oil, and the salt, and remove the pan from the heat. Let the couscous stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Set a rack over another saucepan of boiling water, put the saffron in a heatproof saucer on the rack, and let it steam for 3 to 4 minutes, or until it is brittle. In a blender or small food processor blend the mayonnaise, the saffron, the garlic, and lemon juice. In a non-stick skillet heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it sauté the bell peppers, stirring, until they begin to brown. Add the scallops and sauté the mixture, stirring once or twice, for 1 minute, or until the scallops are just cooked through. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the peas and salt and pepper to taste. In a large bowl fluff the couscous with a fork, stir in well the scallop mixture and 1/2 cup of the saffron-garlic mayonnaise, and let the filling cool.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F. On a work surface arrange two 20-inch-long sheets of wax paper with the long sides overlapping slightly and facing you. Put 1 sheet of the phyllo on the wax paper, brush it with some of the butter, and sprinkle it with about 2 teaspoons of the bread crumbs. On this, layer, brush, and sprinkle 4 more sheets of the phyllo in the same manner and lay the sixth sheet of the_phyllo_ on top.
• Spread the filling in a 3-inch-wide strip, mounding it on the phyllo 4 inches above the near long side, leaving a 2-inch border at each end. Using the wax paper as a guide, lift the bottom 4 inches of the pastry over the filling, fold in the ends, and roll up the strudel tightly. Transfer the strudel carefully, seam side down, to a lightly buttered baking sheet, brush it with the remaining butter, and bake it in the lower third of the oven for 25 minutes, or until it is golden. Let the strudel cool to warm on the baking sheet on a rack. The strudel may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered loosely and chilled. Reheat the strudel in a preheated 400°F. oven for 15 minutes. Serve the strudel warm, cut into 1-inch slices with a serrated knife, with the remaining saffron-garlic mayonnaise.