Seared Sea Scallops With Mediterranean Orange Lime Vinaigrette

Описание: Learn how to cook Pan Seared Sea Scallops with Mediterranean Orange-Lime Vinaigrette! Join Eric from Simply Elegant Home Cooking for this easy and delicious recipe that you can put together in your own home kitchen in under 20 minutes!

One of the most critical steps for this dish is to buy DRY sea scallops. Sea Scallops are sold as either wet (treated with phosphates to add water weight and increase shelf life) or dry. It is impossible to get a proper sear on the wet, treated scallops. Be sure to inquire with your fish monger, and other way to determine if you are buying dry scallops is the color. Dry scallops will be translucent and have a slightly pink tint.

Ingredients:

-1 to 2 pounds dry sea scallops
-6 TB extra virgin olive oil
-2 TB lime juice
-2 TB orange juice
-1 TB finely minced cilantro
-1 small shallot finely minced
-1/4 TS crushed red pepper flakes
-Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Directions:

1. Remove scallops from fridge at least 30 minutes early to allow them to come up to room temperature.
2. Combine the olive oil, lime juice, orange juice, cilantro, shallot, and red pepper flakes into a bowl. Whisk until the mixture emulsifies. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
3. Heat a large cast iron or stainless steel skillet on medium high heat. Allow a full 10 minutes to come up to temperature. Pan should be smoking before scallops are added!
4. Dry the scallops thoroughly with a kitchen towel on all sides. Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper.
5. Once pan is smoking hot, add a small amount of olive oil and swirl to coat pan. Add the scallops, evenly spaced out to the pan.
6. Sear for 90 seconds without touching the scallops as they cook or until a brown crust has formed, then flip them and sear the other side for an additional 90 seconds.
7. Plate the scallops with the vinaigrette drizzled over top and enjoy!