Scallops In Leek Sauce And Caviar Recipes

SCALLOPS IN LEEK SAUCE AND CAVIAR

Steps:

• Rinse the scallops, drain and set aside. Remove and discard the root and dark green outer leaves of the leeks, along with any damaged or wilted inner leaves.
• Cut the leeks into 3-inch chunks and halve the chunks. Slice the leeks into small, thin strips to create a fine julienne. (You should have about 3 1/2 lightly packed cups.) Place the leeks in a sieve, rinse under cool water and drain.
• Place the leeks in a saucepan with 2 1/2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Cook, covered, for about 8 minutes or until tender. Drain, reserving the juice. (You should have about 1/2 cup of juice.) Set the leeks and the juice aside separately.
• When ready to serve, place the leek juice in a saucepan with the scallops. Add the wine, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook gently for 1 minute. Remove the scallops with a slotted spoon and add the cream to the juice in the saucepan. Bring the liquid to a boil. Mix in the dissolved potato starch and stir until the mixture thickens slightly.
• Reheat the leeks in a microwave oven or over direct heat. Divide them among 4 plates. Arrange the scallops on top and spoon some sauce over them. In a bowl, gently mix the red and black caviar together with the oil until the grains separate. Sprinkle on top of the scallops. Serve immediately.

JAMES BUDROS'S LOBSTER AND SCALLOPS WITH BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• Drop the lobsters into boiling water, cover closely and cook about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Trim off the tough ends of each endive and trim away any brown spots. Cut each endive crosswise in half. Cut each half lengthwise into thin slices. Cut the slices into very thin julienne strips. There should be about four cups.
• Trim off the ends of the leek or leeks. Cut the leeks crosswise, green part and all, into two-inch lengths. Cut each length into very thin julienne strips. There should be about four and one-half cups.
• Heat four tablespoons of the butter in a heavy skillet and add the leeks. Cook, stirring, about 10 minutes. Add the endive, stirring to blend. Add the salt and pepper. Cover closely and cook, stirring occasionally, about three minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the scallops in a small skillet and add the wine. Bring to the boil and cook, stirring occasionally, about one minute. Drain the scallops, reserving the cooking liquid. There should be about one-quarter cup.
• Heat one tablespoon of butter and add the shallots. Add the vinegar, and cook until almost reduced. Add the reserved scallop cooking liquid. Cook until liquid almost evaporates. Add the cream, salt and pepper, and bring to the boil. Cook down until reduced almost by half. Add the remaining eight tablespoons butter, a little at a time, to the sauce, stirring with a wire whisk.
• Pull apart and crack the lobsters, removing the meat from the tails and claws. Cut the meat into neat, bite-size cubes.
• When ready to serve, transfer the hot endive and leek mixture to a warm serving dish. Arrange the lobster pieces over the center of the vegetables. Arrange the scallops around the lobster meat. Spoon the sauce equally over the scallops and lobster meat. You may garnish the top of this with the tip of the lobster heads, arranging them beak to beak. Serve on six warm dinner plates. Top each serving with a teaspoon of caviar.

SCALLOPS WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Remove the scallops from their shells, or ask your fishmonger to do this. Separate the white flesh from the corals, and detach the hard skin around the white and the tiny black sack from the coral. Wash clean under a running tap. Halve the whites horizontally. Leave to dry off on some paper towels.
• Wash the leeks and discard the green parts. Slice the white stems lengthwise into narrow strips about 2 inches long. Place in a saucepan with 1-ounce of the butter, a pinch of salt and 8 tablespoons of water. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Keep hot.
• In another pan melt the rest of the butter and then gently cook the shallots until they are soft. Add the wine, vermouth and scallops with their corals. Bring just to the boiling point, then turn the heat very low and simmer for exactly 2 minutes, or less if the scallops are small.
• Remove the leeks from their liquid using a slotted spoon and place in the heated dish. With the same spoon place the scallops on top. Add the leek juice to the scallop juice and boil until the liquid is reduced to 8 tablespoons. Pour in the cream, return to the boil and bubble for a moment or two. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over the scallops. Scatter with the chopped parsley.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH LEEKS AND CAVIAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add leeks and sauté until tender but not brown, about 20 minutes. Add Champagne and boil until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup, about 4 minutes. Transfer leek mixture to strainer set over bowl. Press on leeks to extract as much liquid as possible. Transfer leeks to small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Return liquid to same skillet. Add cream and boil until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 4 minutes. Transfer sauce to bowl; cool 1 hour.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Season scallops with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add scallops to skillet and sauté until just cooked through and golden brown, about 3 minutes per side for each batch. Transfer to plate.
• Spoon leeks in 5 small mounds around rim of each plate, spacing equally. Top each mound with 1 scallop. Stir caviar and tarragon into sauce. Spoon sauce into center of each plate.

FABULOUS MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE SCALLOP PAELLA

Steps:

• Preheat a large dutch oven or paella pan on the stove-top over low heat for about 3-5 minutes.
• Now, add the olive oil and butter to the pan. Saute bell peppers, celery, onion and garlic in the fat over medium to med-high heat, just until celery and onions are barely softened.
• Add the rice, water, diced tomatoes, Knorr chicken granules, bay leaf, rosemary, saffron and seasonings. Cover and simmer gently over low heat for about 18-22 minutes, until rice is almost but not quite done. Stir midway through, and add a little additional water if needed.
• Rinse and drain the scallops, in a colander (no need to pat dry).
• Add the peas, scallops and parsley to the rice mixture. Cover and cook on low for a further 5-10 minutes until scallops are done and the paella is steaming hot. Note: Take care not to overcook the scallops.
• Taste and adjust seasonings. Remove bay leaf and sprig of rosemary before serving.
• Serve hot with fresh lemon wedges at the table. Accompany the paella with slices of fresh buttered sourdough or country bread and a nice glass of wine (I served a red California cabernet sauvignon). Enjoy!