Low Sodium Curried Sea Scallops

Place the 2 tsp. olive oil and butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat.

Add the minced shallots and cook for 8 minutes. Don’t allow the shallots to brown.

Add the curry powder and garam masala.

Cook for 2 minutes. Stir frequently.

Add the flour and stir gently until the flour is well blended.

Add the white wine, lemon zest, honey, saffron, and pepper.

Reduce the heat to low-medium and cook gently for 5 minutes. Whisk the sauce frequently.

Add the milk slowly and whisk until the sauce is smooth.

Cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, and after it begins to thicken, remove from the heat.

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat.

When the pan is hot, add one teaspoon olive oil.

Swirl and add the scallops.

Do not overcrowd the pan.

Cook on the first side for about 3 minutes.

Turn the scallops over to cook on the other side for 3 – 5 minutes.

When you turn the scallops, place the sauce back on the burner over low heat. Heat gently while the scallops are cooking.

Divide the sauce between two plates, top with the cooked scallops, and serve.

Soy Mustard Scallops

Place the chicken stock, mustard, pure maple syrup, wasabi paste and soy sauce in a sauce pan over high heat and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to medium and simmer reducing the sauce by half.

Place a tray of ice cubes in a bowl and fill with water.

While the sauce is reducing, place the water in a medium sauce pan fitted with a steamer basket over high heat. When the water is boiling, place the bok choy in the steamer and steam for about 2 minutes. Remove from steamer and place in the ice water bath to stop the bok choy from cooking further. After they are cool, drain completely and slice in half lengthwise.

Preheat the oven to warm (175°F).

After the bok choy and sauce are prepared, heat the sesame oil in a large non-stick skillet over high heat. When the oil is nearly smoking, place the scallops in the pan so they don’t touch.

Sear on the first side for about 3 minutes and turn. Cook for another 2 – 3 minutes, remove to a plate and place in the warm oven.

Place the bok choy in the hot pan and sear for about 1 minute on the cut side. Turn the bok choy over and add the sauce and cook for about 30 seconds.

Arrange scallops and bok choy on plate and top with sauce. Sprinkle black sesame seeds over the top and garnish with fresh cilantro.

Sesame Scallops with Caramelized Shallots

Place 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and shallots and cook, stirring frequently, for about 3 minutes. Add the soy sauce, chicken stock, pepper, lime juice and maple syrup.

Reduce the heat as needed so that the sauce simmers. Cook for about 15 minutes, reducing to about 1/2 cup.

Turn off the heat and add the cilantro and butter. Stir until the butter melts. Place over low heat to keep warm.

Place a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil. When the oil is hot, dip the scallops in the sesame seeds to coat one side.

Place the scallops in the hot pan, coated side down. Cook for about 4 – 5 minutes, then turn the scallops over. Cook for another 4 – 5 minutes and serve with the sauce.

Seared Sea Scallops with Potato Vinaigrette

Place the water in a large stock pot over high heat.

Add the potatoes to the stock pot. Cover with water by about an inch. Bring to boil and then reduce heat until the water is simmering.

Cook the potatoes about 15 – 20 minutes until slightly soft in the middle. They should only slightly resist a small knife poked in the center.

While the potatoes are cooking place the roasted garlic in a medium glass bowl. Mash with a fork and add 1 tablespoon olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, tarragon, sugar and parsley. Stir until well blended.

Remove from heat and drain water. Run cool water into the pot and let stand for about 5 minutes. Remove the potatoes and let drain on a paper towel. Cut into a 1/4 inch dice.

Add the diced potatoes to the vinaigrette and toss well. Place the bowl in the microwave in preparation for the last step.

Place a large skillet over high heat and add 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add the scallops and cook on one side for 6 – 8 minutes. Turn and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes.

In the last minute heat the potato salad in the microwave so that it is warm. Divide between two plates.

Top the potato salad with the cooked scallops and then spread equally among all scallops the 1 teaspoon of olive oil.

Seared Scallops with Pad Thai Style Noodles

Place a large skillet over medium high heat.

Add 2 teaspoons of the sesame oil and swirl to coat the pan.

Add the carrot and cook for about 2 minutes. Stir frequently.

Add the green onions and garlic. Cook for about a minute. Stir frequently.

Add the water, soy sauce, lime juice, maple syrup, fish sauce, and red pepper flakes and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the rice noodles and reduce the heat until the noodles are simmering.

Cook the noodles for about 8 to 10 minutes until done.

While the noodles are cooking, place the remaining 2 teaspoons sesame oil in a large skillet over high heat.

When the oil is hot, add the scallops and cook for about 4 to 6 minutes. Turn and cook for another 4 minutes.

Serve the noodles topped with the seared scallops.

Scallops with Yellow Pepper Sauce

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the pepper and the shallot in a large skillet and put the pan in the oven. Cook the pepper and shallot, turning about every 5 minutes. Roast the vegetables for about 20 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven. Place the pepper in a paper bag until it cools.

When the pepper is cool peel the skin and seed it. Place it in a blender or mini chopper with the shallot and water. Puree.

Force the puree through a fine mesh sieve. Add the olive oil, salt and pepper. Place the sauce in a small pan over low heat.

Place a large skillet over high heat and add 1 teaspoon olive oil. When the oil is very hot, add the scallops. Sear on the first side for about 4 minutes and turn. Cook for another 3 to 5 minutes and serve topped with the sauce.

Scallops with White Beans

Place the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes.

Add the beans, red pepper flakes, sage, salt, pepper and water. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally.

While the beans are simmering place a large skillet in the oven and preheat to 375°F. When the oven is hot spray lightly with olive oil and place the tomatoes in the pan cut side down. Add the prosciutto to the pan.

After about 8 – 10 minutes spray the pan lightly again and add the scallops. Cook for about 6 – 8 minutes and turn. Sprinkle the oregano over the scallops and tomatoes. Cook for another 6 minutes or so.

While the scallops are cooking add the kale and stir. Stir occasionally.

When the scallops are done divide the beans between two plates and top with the scallops and tomatoes. Sprinkle the prosciutto over the top and serve.

Scallops Gratin

Toast the slice of whole wheat bread until golden brown.

Place the bread in a blender or mini chopper and add the basil, marjoram, tarragon and olive oil. Process until fine bread crumbs.

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Spray a large non-stick pan with olive oil. Place the pan over medium-high heat and add the mushrooms. Cook, tossing frequently, for about 10 – 15 minutes until the mushrooms are well caramelized.

Sprinkle the flour over the mushrooms and cook for another two minutes. Add the chicken stock and the salt. Cook until the sauce begins to thicken and add the butter. Remove from the pan to a small bowl.

Clean and dry the pan and place over medium-high heat. Spray with olive oil and after the pan is hot add the sea scallops. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side until seared light brown.

Place the seared scallops into two au gratin or other shallow oven proof dishes. Top each dish with half of the mushroom mixture and then half of the bread crumbs.

Place in the preheated oven and cook for about 12 minutes (depending on the size of the individual scallops). Top with the cheese and cook for another 2 minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve.

Scallops and Grits

Place a plate in the oven and preheat to warm.

Place the water and salt in a medium saucepan over medium high heat.

When the water begins to simmer, add the cornmeal slowly, whisking continuously.

Reduce the heat to low and continue cooking, whisking frequently, for 4 minutes.

Remove from the heat. Whisk occasionally to keep the grits from congealing.

Place the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.

Add the scallops and cook for 4 to 5 minutes to sear.

Turn the scallops over and cook for 3 minutes.

Place the scallops on the warm plate in the oven.

Add the prosciutto and green onions to the skillet.

Cook for about two minutes.

Add the stock, Cajun seasoning, paprika and butter and stir well.

Cook for about 3 minutes.

While the sauce is cooking, place the grits back over medium heat.

Add the parmesan to the grits and whisk until melted.

Place the grits in two bowls.

Top with the scallops and then the sauce from the skillet.

Serve.

Scallops with Bacon and Asparagus

Place a medium sized skillet over medium high heat. Add the bacon. Cook until the bacon is crispy. Remove and set aside on a paper towel to cool. Turn off the heat.

While the bacon is cooking, place the water in a large skillet over high heat. When the water is almost boiling add the asparagus. Cook for two minutes and remove the asparagus from the water and set aside.

When the bacon is cool, slice it crosswise into very thin strips. Cut the cooled asparagus into 1 1/2 inch pieces.

Put the pan with the bacon grease back on medium high heat. Add the scallops and cook on one side for about 5 minutes. Turn and cook on the other side for about 4 minutes.

Remove the scallops to a warm plate.

Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, wine and pepper to the pan with the bacon grease. Cook, whisking the bottom of the pan, for about 30 seconds. Reduce the heat to medium and add the asparagus, bacon bits and butter. Cook for about 2 minutes, tossing frequently, and serve the mixture over the scallops.

Top with the basil and serve.