Seared Scallops With Mint, Peas, And Bacon

Serves: 5

Halle Leffler

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

46

Spice

42

Sweetness

51

Sourness

42

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.4

Difficulty

Ingredients:

Directions:

1

Place scallops on a paper towel-lined plate and pat very dry with additional paper towels

2

Season both sides with 1/4 tsp

3

Salt and 1/4 tsp

4

Pepper total

5

Bring 1 cup water to a boil, covered, in a small pot

6

Add peas and 1/2 tsp

7

Salt; cook until peas are bright green and tender, about 2 minutes for fresh and 4 minutes for frozen

8

Drain peas through a strainer set over a bowl; reserve cooking liquid

9

Meanwhile, add bacon to a large skillet and heat over medium-high

10

Cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until fat starts to render, about 3 minutes

11

Add shallot and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly browned and bacon is crisp, about 3 minutes more

12

Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon and shallot to a small bowl, reserving fat in skillet

13

Add 1/2 cup cooked peas to bacon mixture

14

Purée lemon juice, 1/8 tsp

15

Salt, 1/8 tsp

16

Pepper, the remaining 1 1/2 cups peas, and 1/2 cup reserved pea cooking liquid in a blender

17

Add oil and pureé until smooth

18

Mint leaves and pureé until just combined but pieces of mint are still visible

19

Divide pea purée among 4 plates

20

Heat skillet with reserved fat over high until just barely smoking

21

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

22

Top pea purée with scallops and bacon-pea mixture, then sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp

23

Mint

24

Place scallops on a paper towel-lined plate and pat very dry with additional paper towels

25

Season both sides with 1/4 tsp

26

Salt and 1/4 tsp

27

Pepper total

28

Bring 1 cup water to a boil, covered, in a small pot

29

Add peas and 1/2 tsp

30

Salt; cook until peas are bright green and tender, about 2 minutes for fresh and 4 minutes for frozen

31

Drain peas through a strainer set over a bowl; reserve cooking liquid

32

Meanwhile, add bacon to a large skillet and heat over medium-high

33

Cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until fat starts to render, about 3 minutes

34

Add shallot and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly browned and bacon is crisp, about 3 minutes more

35

Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon and shallot to a small bowl, reserving fat in skillet

36

Add 1/2 cup cooked peas to bacon mixture

37

Purée lemon juice, 1/8 tsp

38

Salt, 1/8 tsp

39

Pepper, the remaining 1 1/2 cups peas, and 1/2 cup reserved pea cooking liquid in a blender

40

Add oil and pureé until smooth

41

Add 2 Tbsp

42

Mint leaves and pureé until just combined but pieces of mint are still visible

43

Divide pea purée among 4 plates

44

Heat skillet with reserved fat over high until just barely smoking

45

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

46

Top pea purée with scallops and bacon-pea mixture, then sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp

47

Mint

48

Add 2 Tbsp