Pan Seared Scallops with Lemon Garlic Sauce
h
We should renounce costly
eateries and make exquisite burned scallops comfortable. Generally it tends to
be somewhat scary to handle fish, however I'm going to separate the procedure
and tell you the best way to do it. It's not as hard as it appears. I've included
one additional basic advance to guarantee that scallops are excessively
delightful and don't dry out.
I locate that a saline
solution improves the normally sweet and light saltwater kind of scallops. To
get a decent caramelized surface, we're going to completely dry the scallops at
that point burn in a hot skillet without moving them. A rich lemon garlic sauce
is made right in a similar skillet for additional flavor to sprinkle on top.
How to cook seared scallops
- Brine scallops in salt water.
- Dry scallops with paper towels.
- Heat a large pan with olive oil.
- Sear scallops for 3 minutes.
- Flip and baste with butter.
- Remove scallops and saute garlic.
- Add lemon juice and zest.
- Turn off heat, whisk in mustard and cream.
- Garnish with dill and pepper.
Why do you brine scallops before cooking?
Brining scallops in a salt solution
helps to more deeply season them inside, not just on the surface while
retaining moisture. They are very lean in protein with little fat. Without the
insulation, there’s a greater chance for them to become rubbery and dry. The
saltwater adds a little extra insurance, and only take 10 minutes.
How do you get a golden color on the scallops?
To
achieve the attractive caramel kissed surface, the scallops must be as dry as
possible. Use plenty of paper towels to soak up the moisture after brining.
This ensures the scallops will brown instead of steam when they hit the hot
pan. Further drying them uncovered in the refrigerator can also help remove
extra moisture.
I
found that stainless steel or cast
iron gives a nice deep color, however, nonstick
pans work well too but should not be used over high heat.
Basting the scallops in the final minutes of cooking with butter adds a little
extra boost of vibrancy. The milk proteins and lactose in the butter brown
which sticks to the outside for an irresistible crust.
Purchasing wet vs. dry
Wet
scallops are soaked in additives called sodium tripolyphosphate to help extend
shelf life, keep them whiter in color, and they soak up more moisture. Dry
scallops have no chemicals added, just shipped on ice, and I prefer to use
them. They have a pinkish or ivory hue, feel stickier, and smell like the sea.
The downside to wet scallops
Sometimes
they have an unpleasant chemical soapy taste and release too much moisture in
the pan which prevents a nice golden crust from forming. If you’ve ever tried
caramelizing scallops and it never seems to happen, this chemical could be the
culprit.
How do you thaw frozen scallops?
There
are two methods to use to defrost scallops without negatively impacting their
texture. 1) Defrost them overnight in a single layer on a plate covered with
plastic wrap in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. 2) Place scallops in a
resealable plastic bag, air removed and using a bowl, run cool water over them
until defrosted, this could take about 30 minutes per pound.
How do you know when seared scallops are fully cooked?
Scallops
are very lean, so they cook within minutes in hot oil and on high temperatures.
They should have a golden crust and the interior should be opaque in color. The
texture should be firm, yet easy to cut through with a fork or knife with
little resistance.
Ingredients
Brine
- ⅓ cup (90 g) kosher salt
- 1 cup (240 ml) hot water
- 4 cups ice cubes
- 1 pound (454 g) scallops, U15 size, 14 to 16 per pound
Pan Seared Scallops
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon (8 g) minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) heavy cream
- black pepper, as needed for seasoning
- 1 teaspoon chopped dill
Instructions
o Combine
salt and hot water in a medium bowl, stir until the salt is mostly dissolved.
Add ice cubes, once the water is cold add scallops.
o Brine
scallops for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Transfer to a sheet
pan lined with paper towels.
o Place
another sheet of paper towel on top of scallops, gently pressing until each
piece is dry. The drier the scallops, the better the sear.
o Allow
scallops to sit for 10 minutes at room temperature before cooking.
o Right
before cooking, lightly season both sides with salt.
Pan Seared Scallops
- Heat a large 12-inch pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil. Once hot, add scallops to the pan in a single layer.
- Gently press scallops with a spatula so that they make direct contact with the pan.
- Pan sear until golden brown on the surface, not moving them, about 3 minutes.
- Add butter to the pan and allow to melt.
- Flip scallops over, use a spoon to baste with butter, tilting the pan as needed and cook until firm but tender, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and transfer to a clean plate.
- Using the same pan to cook the scallops, turn the heat up to medium.
- Add in garlic and saute until fragrant, 30 seconds.
- Add in lemon juice and lemon zest, scrape the pan to remove any browned bits and stir into the sauce, cook about 1 minute.
- Turn off the heat and whisk in Dijon mustard. Add in cream and whisk to combine.
- If needed, add in some water to the sauce if you want a thinner consistency. Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired.
- Add scallops back to the pan, and warm over low heat, 2 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped dill and black
pepper, serve warm.