The delectable combination of seared scallops, tender spinach, and a luxuriously smooth apple brandy cream sauce promises a culinary journey like no other. This dish elevates the art of cooking, capturing the essence of coastal flavors and transforming them into a masterpiece that is both visually stunning and unequivocally delicious. With each bite, the seared scallops, kissed with a hint of golden brown, offer a tender yet firm texture, complemented by luscious and lightly wilted spinach. The pièce de résistance, however, is the apple brandy cream sauce, an exquisite symphony of flavors that tantalizes the palate with its creamy richness, subtle sweetness, and a touch of sophistication that lingers long after the last bite.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
SEARED SCALLOPS ON SPINACH WITH APPLE-BRANDY CREAM SAUCE
Categories Fruit Juice Milk/Cream Appetizer Bake Sauté Scallop Spinach Calvados Bon Appétit Sugar Conscious Pescatarian Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free
Yield Makes 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallot; stir 30 seconds. Add Calvados (brandy may ignite); boil 30 seconds. Add cream; boil 2 minutes. Transfer sauce base to bowl. (Sauce base can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Sprinkle scallops with salt and pepper. Heat vegetable oil in another large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add 8 scallops.
- Cook until brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet; place in oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining scallops. Add apple juice and thyme to hot skillet. Boil 1 minute, scraping up brown bits. Add sauce base; bring to boil. Remove from heat.
- Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and stir 30 seconds. Add spinach; toss until barely wilted and still bright green, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Using tongs, mound spinach in center of 8 plates, dividing equally.
- Arrange 2 scallops on spinach on each plate. Pour any collected juices from baking sheet into sauce in skillet. Boil until thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; spoon over scallops.
PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH SPINACH
Make and share this Pan-Seared Scallops With Spinach recipe from Food.com.
Provided by loof751
Categories Low Cholesterol
Time 20m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large skillet cook bacon until crisp. Remove from pan and drain well on paper towels. Remove all but 1 tablespoon drippings from skillet.
- Rinse scallops and pat dry. Combine flour and cajun seasoning; add scallops and toss to coat.
- Cook scallops in hot drippings in skillet about 6 minutes or until browned, turning once.
- Remove scallops from skillet. Deglaze skillet with white wine.
- Add spinach to liquid in skillet. Cover and cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes or until spinach is wilted. Add vinegar and toss to coat evenly.
- Return scallops to skillet and heat through. Crumble bacon and sprinkle over scallops.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 148.1, Fat 3.6, SaturatedFat 1.1, Cholesterol 31.4, Sodium 559.4, Carbohydrate 10.9, Fiber 1.8, Sugar 1.6, Protein 17.1
APPLE, PEAR SEARED SCALLOPS SALAD WITH A BRANDY SAUCE
This can be as a first course appetizer, but I love to serve this as a salad starter. It is so good and really is a show stopper. The spinach is pan seared for just 1 minute and then topped with the scallops seared and garnished with a brandy cream sauce. Note, the sauce can easily be made ahead of time as well as the apples and pears. Pan searing the spinach as I mentioned and scallops takes only minutes so make sure everything is done and ready to go. To keep the apple, pears and scallops warm, I just put them in a small bowl and cover with foil and set in a 200 degree oven. But it is not a big deal if you don't put them in the oven, just covering them with foil should keep them warm enough. This is a very quick but very elegant dish. I have served this for many holiday dinner and always has rave reviews. It is also on my catering menu and is always very popular. So, don't be scared off by four steps. Two steps are done in advance and the rest is done in just minutes. Just take it step by step. It is not hard.
Provided by SarasotaCook
Categories < 60 Mins
Time 45m
Yield 8 Salads, 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Brandy Sauce -- I make this first so it is already to go because everything else is so quick. In a small pot add the oil and heat to medium high heat. Saute the shallot and cook just a minute until it softens slightly. Add the brandy (make sure you remove from the burner when you do this) return and then cook just a few seconds. Then add in the cream and boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a small bowl. I just keep it at room temperature unless you make it the morning of, then you can refrigerate. But make sure you bring to room temp before you make your scallops.
- Apples and Pears -- I make these ahead to and just reheat in the micro for just 1 minute. Makes this much easier. In a small sauce pan add the butter and bring to medium high heat. Add the apples and pears and cook 3-5 minutes until soft but NOT mushy. You want them tender. Once soft, add in the pecans and remove to a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
- Scallops -- Remove from the refrigerator and let them set at room temperature. Just let them come to room temp it won't take long. At this point, make sure you take your sauce and apples out of the refrigerator if you made them earlier that day. You want to make sure they are room temperature.
- Searing Scallops -- Very Important! Make sure the scallops are dry, pat dry with a paper towel. In a small bowl, add the bread crumbs, salt and pepper and dip each side of the scallop lightly in the mixture. Then in large saute pan NON stick heat to medium high to high heat and add the olive oil. Add the scallops (don't over crowd, you want a nice dark brown sear) and cook until nicely brown on each side. They will only take about 2 minutes per side. It may take 2 batches depending on the size of your pan. Remove to a plate and cover with foil as you make the sauce.
- Part 2 -- After removing the scallops, reduce the heat to medium and add the apple cider and thyme to the pan and scrape up all the bits on the bottom. Boil 1 minute until the cider reduces a bit and all the bits are scraped up. Then add you room temp brandy sauce and bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute and remove from the heat.
- Spinach, Apples and Pears -- Last components. I just reheat my apples/pears in the microwave for just a minute before plating.
- And as for the spinach, I just put in a large bowl and toss with a teaspoon of olive oil, salt and pepper. Then toss and cover with plastic wrap and cook 1 minute. You don't want it completely wilted, just lightly sauteed.
- Plating -- On each plate, add some of the wilted spinach and then a scallop in the middle. Top that scallop with a spoon of the apple, pear, and nut mixture and then another scallop. Put a tooth pic through the top so they don't fall over. Just drizzle with the brandy sauce and serve.
- Just enjoy this great very unique wonderful appetizer/salad starter course. This served with some grilled steaks or beef tenderloin a potato gratain and some amazing desert makes this a 5 star dinner. A little work for a beginning dish, but it does get noticed.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 250.2, Fat 15.9, SaturatedFat 7.7, Cholesterol 51.9, Sodium 496.3, Carbohydrate 13.8, Fiber 2.3, Sugar 4.3, Protein 7.8
Tips:
- Choose fresh, high-quality scallops. Look for scallops that are plump, firm, and have a slightly translucent appearance. Avoid scallops that are slimy or have a strong fishy odor.
- Sear the scallops properly. To get a nice sear on the scallops, make sure your skillet is hot before adding the scallops. Sear the scallops for 2-3 minutes per side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
- Don't overcrowd the skillet. If you overcrowd the skillet, the scallops will not cook evenly. Cook the scallops in batches if necessary.
- Use a flavorful sauce. The sauce is what will really make your scallops sing. Choose a sauce that complements the delicate flavor of the scallops, such as the apple brandy cream sauce in this recipe.
- Serve the scallops immediately. Scallops are best served immediately after they are cooked. This will prevent them from becoming tough or overcooked.
Conclusion:
Seared scallops are a delicious and elegant dish that can be enjoyed for any occasion. By following these tips, you can make sure your scallops turn out perfect every time. Serve them on a bed of spinach with a flavorful sauce, and you'll have a meal that is sure to impress your guests.
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