Seared Scallops With Mint Peas And Bacon Recipes

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH MINT, PEAS, & BACON

Steps:

• Place scallops on paper towel and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper
• Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil. Add the peas and a little salt and cook 4 minutes. Drain through a strainer into a bowl and reserve the liquid.
• Meanwhile add the bacon to a large skillet. Cook bacon until fat renders. Add the shallot and cook until the bacon is crisp. Transfer the bacon and shallots to a small bowl with a slotted spoon. Reserve the back fat in the pan. Add 1/4 cup of the peas to the bacon and shallot mixture.
• Puree the lemon juice some salt and pepper, the remaining peas and 1/4 cup reserved pea cooking water, mint and olive oil. Process until well incorporated and somewhat smooth.
• Heat the skillet with the rendered bacon fat. Add more olive oil if needed. Sear the scallops 3 minutes per side until browned.
• Plate the pea puree with the scallops and bacon pea mixutre. Then garnish with mint

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH PEA PURéE, CRISPY BACON, AND MINT OIL

Steps:

• 1. To make the mint oil, put all the ingredients in a blender and whizz. Chill for 2 hours to let the flavour develop, then strain.
• 2. Cook the peas with the mint in salted, boiling water until just tender but not soft. Drain and refresh in very cold water.
• 3. Purée the peas in a blender until very smooth, or push through a sieve.
• 4. Grill the bacon, put it on kitchen paper and keep warm.
• 5. Heat 2 large frying pans until very hot but not smoking. Season the scallops on both sides with sea salt. Add 15 ml (1 tbsp) mild olive oil to each pan and then put in the scallops. They should sizzle. Cook each scallop for 45 seconds on each side, then remove from the pan and keep somewhere warm.
• 6. Whisk all the honey vinaigrette ingredients together.
• 7. Divide the pea purée between 6 warmed plates and place 3 pieces of bacon across each portion. Arrange 3 scallops around the purée and drizzle with the mint oil. Put some salad leaves dressed with honey vinaigrette on top.