Seared Sea Scallops In Beurre Blanc With Baby Spring Vegetables In Puff Pastry Recipes

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH HOT SAUCE BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• Mix shallot, fennel fronds, cherry tomatoes, olive oil and vinegar in a small bowl and set aside.
• Pat scallops dry on both sides with a paper towel; they must be extremely dry. Sprinkle one side with kosher salt and a small grind of black pepper.
• Heat oil in a good-quality, nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. When oil is very hot and begins to shimmer and release a slight amount of smoke, place scallops in the pan in a single layer and reduce heat to medium. (Depending on the size of the pan, scallops may have to be cooked in two batches.) Let cook undisturbed for approximately 2 minutes or until bottoms begin to brown and caramelize. Flip scallops, cook for another minute and then remove to a warm plate.
• Turn heat back to medium-high and add wine, lemon juice and hot sauce, stirring to remove browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Reduce for a minute or 2, then turn heat to low. Whisk in butter, a tablespoon at a time, until sauce becomes emulsified and glossy. Stir in any juices from the scallops, then remove from heat.
• To serve, spoon sauce onto four individual plates or a platter, place scallops on sauce and top each with a spoonful of salsa.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH GARLIC BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• In large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium-high heat. Cook scallops in butter about 5 minutes, turning once, until golden brown on outside and white and opaque inside. Remove scallops to serving plate; cover to keep warm.
• Add garlic, shallot, wine and vinegar to skillet, stirring to loosen brown particles. Cook until liquid is reduced to less than half. Reduce heat to low; add 4 tablespoons butter. Cook and stir until butter is melted. Add remaining 3 tablespoons butter; cook and stir until sauce is thickened and creamy.
• Press sauce through fine strainer; discard solids. Pour sauce over scallops. Serve immediately.

COQUILLE ST. JACQUES (SCALLOPS WITH BEURRE BLANC)

Steps:

• Marinate scallops in vermouth at least 15 minutes (or up to an hour); In a medium saucepan large enough to hold a small heavy saucepan, boil some water and set aside.
• In that small heavy saucepan, simmer shallot in vinegar and wine until liquid is reduced to approximately 1T; Remove from heat and add water; Reduce heat to low and cook, adding 6T butter 1T at a time; whisking in each new piece before the previous one has melted completely (occasionally lift pan from heat to cool mixture); Sauce should never liquify, it should be similar to a thin hollandaise; remove from heat and whisk in herbs, and salt and pepper to taste; Cover and keep warm in pan of hot water.
• Drain scallops and pat dry.
• Season scallops with salt and pepper; Heat 1 T butter and 1 T olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over moderate heat, until foam subsides; saute half of the scallops, turning once until just cooked through (approx 4 minutes total); wipe out skillet and saute the other half of the scallops in remaining butter/olive oil mixture.
• Serve scallops with beurre blanc.