Seared Citrus Cilantro Scallops Recipe
Cook Time: 20 minutes Difficulty: Easy
One food my family avoids like the plague is scallops...even with the one-bite rule (oh well, more for me). I guess I really don't blame them as I too had quite the aversion to the slimy little suckers growing up, but boy how my tastes have changed.
I absolutely love them now, and on occasion, I will cook them for myself as a nice lunch treat, but I've also served them to guests as appetizers!! Huge hit!
I love when a recipe comes together from experimenting (playing with food). Many of the recipes I researched had heavy sauces, and some had lime as the featured ingredient. I wanted light, flavorful, and different and wondered how three forms of citrus would taste with these little beauties, so I got cracking.
The result? Amazing! Fresh succulent scallops, bursting with citrus flavor, tinged with a hint of cilantro, with flavors that will make your taste buds sing. So treat yourself or delight your guests with this fresh and flavorful dish.
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Ingredients
1 pound jumbo sea scallops (12 to 15)
2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend
Pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) canola oil or olive oil
1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) low-sodium soy sauce
Juice of 1 lime wedge, 1 orange wedge, and 1 lemon wedge
1 Teaspoon (tsp), or to taste Sriracha sauce (optional)
2 Tablespoons citrus zest (here we used lime, Clementine, and lemon zest, for color and flavor)
Chopped fresh cilantro as a garnish (optional)
Lime wedges, for serving (could also use orange and lemon for a pretty presentation)
Preparation
Rinse the scallops with water and pat dry with a paper towel. Gently remove the side muscle from the scallop if still attached. It looks like a flap on the side of the scallop. Season both sides with Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro and pepper. Set aside.
Next, with a Microplane, zest a lime, a Clementine orange (you could use regular oranges), and a lemon. If you don't have a zester, no worries, you can simply use a knife. (Check out our blog on "To Zest or Not to Zest").
Mix the zest together and set aside. Since you'll only need a couple of Tablespoons, freeze the rest in a plastic bag for later use.
Now for searing the scallops. Don't let the word "sear" intimidate you. It's really very easy. It's simply using a good skillet, such as a cast iron skillet and browning food with high heat. You'll also want to make sure you do not crowd the scallops, they like their "space", so cooking in batches is preferable. -Better Home & Gardens
Add the oil to the skillet and turn on the skillet to medium-high heat. Add the seasoned scallops to the skillet and sear on one side until the bottom begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Turn the scallops over and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the bottom is browned and scallop is opaque. Remove the first batch and place on a plate and proceed to cook the remaining scallops in the same manner.
Allow scallops to rest briefly while you make the sauce. Add the soy sauce and the juice of the citrus wedges to the hot pan, scraping the bottom of the pan to incorporate the flavor, and cook for about 2 minutes on high. Plate the scallops on a platter and drizzle them with the pan sauce. Garnish the scallops with the citrus zest and serve. Oh my! Prepare to have your taste buds tantalized. Enjoy!
