Seared Scallops With Smoky Sweet Corn Puree Recipes

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CORN CREAM

Steps:

• Stir corn kernels, chicken broth, 2 tablespoons butter, cayenne pepper, and salt together in a saucepan; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until corn is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Pour corn mixture into a blender no more than half full. Cover and hold lid down; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Puree in batches until smooth. Pour pureed corn mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a saucepan. Season with salt to taste.
• Toss scallops, Fresno pepper, canola oil, kosher salt, and smoked paprika in a bowl until scallops are completely coated. Separate pepper slices from scallops.
• Heat a large heavy skillet over high heat until very hot, about 5 minutes. Cook scallops in hot skillet until browned on one side, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook on the other side until cooked through, about 3 minutes more. Cook and stir sliced peppers on the side of the skillet while the scallops are cooking.
• Remove skillet from heat; transfer scallops to a plate, leaving peppers in hot skillet. Stir water and 1 tablespoon butter into peppers until butter melts. Drizzle lemon juice over peppers; stir to glaze peppers completely.
• Divide corn cream between four bowls. Place 3 scallops over corn puree and top with glazed peppers. Garnish with radish sprouts.

SEA SCALLOPS WITH CORN COULIS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook shallot and garlic in 2 teaspoons oil in a small skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, about 1 minute. Add corn, basil, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until corn is tender and beginning to lightly brown on edges, about 4 minutes. Add milk and scrape up any brown bits from bottom of skillet, then remove from heat.
• Purée corn mixture in a blender at medium speed until very smooth, about 1 minute. Force purée through a fine-mesh sieve into a small saucepan, pressing hard on and then discarding solids. Cover coulis until ready to serve.
• Toss tomatoes with parsley and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.
• Pat scallops dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a 12-inch nonstick heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté half of scallops, turning over once, until golden and just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes total. Transfer to a platter and keep warm, loosely covered with foil. Sauté remaining scallops in same manner.
• Reheat coulis over low heat, covered, then spoon 2 tablespoons onto center of each of 6 plates. Arrange 5 scallops per plate in a circle on coulis, then spoon tomatoes into center.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH SMOKY SWEET CORN PUREE

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon then reduce heat to medium and cook until just crisp, about 4-5 minutes. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Transfer bacon grease to a small bowl. Wipe out skillet with a paper towel.
• Heat butter and 1 tablespoon bacon grease in the skillet. Add the scallions and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add the corn kernels, cream cheese and half-and-half or cream. Continue cooking over medium heat or until cream cheese is smooth. Season to taste with cayenne, salt and black pepper.
• Transfer half of the corn mixture to a food processor or blender. Process until almost smooth. Return to skillet, stir and keep warm.
• In a nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon bacon grease over medium-high heat. Season scallops with salt, black pepper and smoked paprika. Cook 2-3 minutes per side or until medium doneness.
• Stir chopped chives and half of cooked bacon into corn purée.