Seared Scallops With Mint Peas And Bacon Recipes

Steps:

• Place scallops on a paper towel-lined plate and pat very dry with additional paper towels. Season both sides with 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper total.
• Bring 1 cup water to a boil, covered, in a small pot. Add peas and 1/2 tsp. salt; cook until peas are bright green and tender, about 2 minutes for fresh and 4 minutes for frozen. Drain peas through a strainer set over a bowl; reserve cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, add bacon to a large skillet and heat over medium-high. Cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until fat starts to render, about 3 minutes. Add shallot and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly browned and bacon is crisp, about 3 minutes more. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon and shallot to a small bowl, reserving fat in skillet. Add 1/2 cup cooked peas to bacon mixture.
• Purée lemon juice, 1/8 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper, the remaining 1 1/2 cups peas, and 1/2 cup reserved pea cooking liquid in a blender. Add oil and pureé until smooth. Add 2 Tbsp. mint leaves and pureé until just combined but pieces of mint are still visible. Divide pea purée among 4 plates.
• Heat skillet with reserved fat over high until just barely smoking. Working in batches and adding more oil if necessary, sear scallops until a golden brown crust has formed and scallop releases from skillet, about 3 minutes per side. Top pea purée with scallops and bacon-pea mixture, then sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. mint.

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette: Blanch the peas in salted water until tender, and then shock in an ice bath. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, honey and some salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the peas, mint and parsley and toss to combine. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
• For the scallops: Heat a charcoal or gas grill to high for direct grilling. Brush the scallops on both sides with canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle some sugar over one side and let sit for 2 minutes to slightly dissolve. Place the scallops, sugar-side down, on the grill and cook until golden brown and caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Flip and continue grilling until just cooked through, about 2 minutes.
• Serve 3 scallops per plate and spoon the peas and vinaigrette over and around the scallops. Top each with some of the chopped mint and parsley.

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.