Seared scallops with creamy spinach and leeks is the epitome of a sophisticated yet approachable dish that is sure to impress your dinner guests. The scallops are cooked to perfection, delivering a succulent and slightly caramelized exterior with a tender and juicy interior. Combined with the creamy spinach and leeks, this dish creates a harmonious symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. This article will guide you through the steps of crafting this delectable dish, offering tips and techniques to ensure that your scallops are perfectly seared and your sauce is rich and creamy.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CREAMY SPINACH AND LEEKS
Categories Shellfish
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Melt 1/2 Tbs. of the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the spinach and cook, tossing with tongs, until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer with tongs to a colander set over a bowl; let drain and cool slightly. Repeat with the remaining spinach (you don't need to add more butter). Squeeze handfuls of the spinach to release as much liquid as possible. Discard any liquid in the skillet. Melt the remaining 2 Tbs. butter over medium heat and then add the leeks and a pinch of salt. Cook until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Add the wine, raise the heat to medium high, and cook until almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add the cream and simmer until it's thickened and coats the back of a spoon, about 2 minutes. Season with 1/2 tsp. salt, a generous grind of pepper, and the nutmeg. Stir in the cheese and gently fold in the spinach. Keep warm. Pat the scallops dry and remove the side muscle if still attached. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 2 tsp. of the oil over medium heat until shimmering hot. Season the scallops with salt and pepper. Add half of the scallops to the pan and cook, undisturbed, until browned on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and continue to cook until just opaque in the center, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining 2 tsp. of oil and the scallops. Serve the scallops over the spinach. nutrition information (per serving): Calories (kcal): 420; Fat (g): 21; Fat Calories (kcal): 190; Saturated Fat (g): 10; Protein (g): 32; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 6; Carbohydrates (g): 24; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 3; Sodium (mg): 1220; Cholesterol (mg): 105; Fiber (g): 5;
SCALLOPS WITH LEEKS
Steps:
- Remove the scallops from their shells, or ask your fishmonger to do this. Separate the white flesh from the corals, and detach the hard skin around the white and the tiny black sack from the coral. Wash clean under a running tap. Halve the whites horizontally. Leave to dry off on some paper towels.
- Wash the leeks and discard the green parts. Slice the white stems lengthwise into narrow strips about 2 inches long. Place in a saucepan with 1-ounce of the butter, a pinch of salt and 8 tablespoons of water. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Keep hot.
- In another pan melt the rest of the butter and then gently cook the shallots until they are soft. Add the wine, vermouth and scallops with their corals. Bring just to the boiling point, then turn the heat very low and simmer for exactly 2 minutes, or less if the scallops are small.
- Remove the leeks from their liquid using a slotted spoon and place in the heated dish. With the same spoon place the scallops on top. Add the leek juice to the scallop juice and boil until the liquid is reduced to 8 tablespoons. Pour in the cream, return to the boil and bubble for a moment or two. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over the scallops. Scatter with the chopped parsley.
SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CABBAGE AND LEEKS
Make and share this Seared Scallops With Cabbage and Leeks recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Derf2440
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 25m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat 4 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick frypan over medium high heat until hot but not smoking.
- Add leek, cook until soft, 1 to 2 minutes; Stir in cabbage, and add stock.
- Cook stirring occasionally, until cabbage is slightly soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt and season with fresh ground pepper; set aside.
- Sprinkle scallops with 1/4 teaspoon salt and season with freshly ground pepper. Heat remaining 2 1/2 teaspoons oil in another large nonstick frypan, over medium high heat until hot but not smoking. Add scallops, cook, turning once , until dark golden, about 4 minutes per side.
- Divide cabbage mixture between four plates and top each serving with 3 scallops, garnish with lemon slices.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 165.7, Fat 10.7, SaturatedFat 1.5, Cholesterol 10.8, Sodium 207.5, Carbohydrate 11.4, Fiber 3.2, Sugar 4.5, Protein 7.6
SEARED SCALLOPS WITH LEEKS & LEMON CHILLI BUTTER
Scallops love a bit of lemon and chilli plus, they are ready in a flash. The perfect way to impress last-minute guests
Provided by Jane Hornby
Categories Starter
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- For the butter, mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl, then beat well with a wooden spoon until there are no lumps of butter left. Spoon onto a large sheet of cling film, then wrap tightly in a sausage shape. Chill until firm (or put in the freezer if you're short of time).
- Set up a pan with a steamer or suspend a heatproof colander over the top of a pan. Cut the leeks in half lengthways, then slice into long strips, about the thickness of tagliatelle. Cover, then steam for 6 mins until tender, with no signs of squeakiness. Season, then set aside.
- Dry the scallops on kitchen paper and season. Heat a heavy-based pan, then add the oil. Once hot, add the scallops, keeping them close together - this helps the sides to stay straight and tall rather than sagging. Sizzle for 2 mins until caramelised and you can see the heat creeping up the outside. Turn over with a palette knife, then fry for 1 min more. Take off the heat, then add a few good slices of the butter to the pan, spooning over the scallops as it melts.
- To serve, wind a nest of warm leeks in the centre of 4 plates, top each with 3 scallops, spoon over the buttery sauce (it looks smart trickled around the plate), then sprinkle with the remaining parsley. Squeeze over a little lemon juice before you tuck in.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 588 calories, Fat 56 grams fat, SaturatedFat 33 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 3 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 2 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 19 grams protein, Sodium 1.47 milligram of sodium
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
SEARED SCALLOPS WITH LEEKS AND CAVIAR SAUCE
Steps:
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add leeks and sauté until tender but not brown, about 20 minutes. Add Champagne and boil until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup, about 4 minutes. Transfer leek mixture to strainer set over bowl. Press on leeks to extract as much liquid as possible. Transfer leeks to small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Return liquid to same skillet. Add cream and boil until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 4 minutes. Transfer sauce to bowl; cool 1 hour.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Season scallops with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add scallops to skillet and sauté until just cooked through and golden brown, about 3 minutes per side for each batch. Transfer to plate.
- Spoon leeks in 5 small mounds around rim of each plate, spacing equally. Top each mound with 1 scallop. Stir caviar and tarragon into sauce. Spoon sauce into center of each plate.
Tips:
- Use Fresh Scallops: Fresh scallops have a sweet and briny flavor, making them perfect for searing. Look for plump, opaque scallops with no discoloration.
- Sear Scallops Properly: To get a perfect sear on your scallops, make sure your pan is hot enough. Sear the scallops for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Don't Overcook the Scallops: Overcooked scallops will become tough and rubbery. Cook them just until they are opaque throughout.
- Use a Good Quality Cream: The cream sauce is an essential part of this dish, so use a high-quality cream with at least 35% fat.
- Add Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs like parsley, chives, or tarragon can brighten up the flavor of the dish. Add them at the end of cooking for the best flavor.
Conclusion:
Seared scallops with creamy spinach and leeks is a delicious and elegant dish that is perfect for a special occasion. The combination of seared scallops, creamy sauce, and sautéed vegetables is sure to impress your guests. With a few simple tips, you can easily make this dish at home. So next time you're looking for a special meal, give this recipe a try.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love