Scallop Escabache With Cucumber And Sesame Recipes

SESAME-CRUSTED, PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH ASIAN VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl add ginger, garlic, green onion, cilantro, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy, 1 tablespoon of canola oil, and sake. Whisk ingredients together.
• Place 1 teaspoon of vinaigrette in each soup spoon.
• Season scallops with salt and pepper.
• Place sesame seeds on a plate. Pat down top and bottom side of each scallop in sesame seeds.
• In a saute pan, over medium-high heat add remaining tablespoon oil. When oil is hot, add scallops, placing them sesame-crusted side down. Sear for approximately 1 minute, or until sesame seeds brown. Turn and sear on other sesame-crusted side for 1 more minute. Place 1 scallop in each soup spoon. Serve immediately.
• * The same serving format can be achieved with only 4 spoons by replenishing each guests spoon for subsequent servings.
• Recommended beverage: cold sake

SPICY SHRIMP AND SCALLOP TEMPURA WITH CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F.
• Blend the flour, cornstarch, sesame seeds, salt, sugar, baking powder, water, sake, chile sauce, and fish sauce together in a large bowl. Dip the shrimp and scallops in the batter, letting the excess batter drip back into the bowl and gently drop into the hot oil. Fry the shrimp and scallops until crisp and golden, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• To make the cucumber salad: Whisk together the ginger, sugar, chile flakes, rice vinegar, and fish sauce. Toss the cucumber in the dressing and divide between 2 plates.
• Remove the shrimp and scallops from the oil and drain on paper towels, season with salt. Place 2 shrimp and 1 scallop on each plate on top of the cucumber salad.

GRILLED SEA SCALLOPS WITH YELLOW BEETS, CUCUMBERS AND LIME

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place beets in a baking dish with an inch of water. Tightly cover baking dish and roast for 1 hour or so, until beets are soft enough to yield to a fork and skins easily rub off. Peel beets, let them cool, then dice into 1/2-inch cubes. Alternatively, peel and dice raw beets, then simmer in salted water for 20 to 30 minutes, until tender. (Beets may be cooked up to a day in advance.)
• Put scallops on a baking sheet, pat dry and season on both sides with salt and pepper. Drizzle or paint very lightly with olive oil, just to coat the surface. Leave at room temperature for 15 minutes to absorb seasoning. (Or refrigerate up to 6 hours in advance; bring to room temperature before proceeding.)
• Put onions, ginger and lime juice in a mixing bowl with a big pinch of salt. Let macerate for 10 minutes or so, then add beets and cucumber to bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss to coat well with juices. Leave to marinate, tossing occasionally, for at least 10 minutes and up to 30 minutes.
• Prepare a bed of medium-hot coals for grilling or heat a stovetop grill pan. Lay the scallops on the grill and let them crisp gradually, for 5 minutes or so. Don't try to turn them until they are well browned or they'll stick. Flip and cook for 2 or 3 minutes more, until cooked through, but juicy.
• Transfer scallops to a serving dish in one layer. Spoon beets and cucumbers over the scallops and sprinkle with dill, mint and chives. Squeeze a little more lime juice over everything and drizzle with good fruity olive oil.

GINGER CUCUMBER SALAD WITH SCALLOPS

Steps:

• With Asian or English cucumbers (or small garden cucumbers), slice thinly, preferably with a mandoline. With thick cucumbers, peel, halve lengthwise, and scoop out seeds before slicing.
• Mix vinegar, ginger, sugar and salt, and toss with cucumbers. Let stand for 30 to 60 minutes. (Refrigerate if marinating for more than an hour in warm weather.)
• Just before serving, drain excess liquid. Put 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium-high heat. Wait a minute, then add scallops or shrimp. Sear for about 2 minutes to a side, then remove to a plate. Turn heat to medium, add remaining oil, onions and turmeric, if you are using it. Cook until onion softens, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat until browned and fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir onions into cucumbers, top with scallops or shrimp, garnish with sesame seeds, and serve.

SEARED SESAME SCALLOPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl stir together sesame seeds, salt, and pepper. Remove tough muscle from side of each scallop if necessary and pat scallops dry. Dip flat sides of each scallop in sesame mixture. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté scallops on flat sides until sesame seeds are golden and scallops are just cooked through, about 4 minutes total.
• Serve scallops with couscous and lemon wedges.