Cajun Sea Scallops Recipes

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Make the Cajun spice mix: In a small bowl or resealable container, mix together the paprika, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, oregano, and thyme until well combined. The spice mix will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
• Make the pasta: Cook the pasta in the boiling water according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water, then drain the noodles.
• While the pasta cooks, toss the shrimp in a medium bowl with 2 tablespoons of Cajun spice mix. Toss the scallops in a separate medium bowl with 1 tablespoon of the Cajun spice mix as well.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until nearly smoking. Add the shrimp to the pan and cook, flipping once until they just turn pink, 2-3 minutes per side, being careful not to overcook. Transfer the shrimp back to the bowl and wipe the pan clean.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the same pan until nearly smoking. Add the scallops to the pan and sear on each side for about 2 minutes, until they are easy to flip without resistance. Transfer the scallops to the bowl with the shrimp. Wipe out the pan.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the same pan over medium heat. Add the yellow and orange bell peppers, season with 1 tablespoon of Cajun spice mix, and cook for 7-10 minutes, until the peppers are soft and tender. Add the red bell peppers and scallions and cook for another 5 minutes, until warmed through. Transfer the vegetables to the bowl with the shrimp and scallops.
• In the same pan (do not wipe out!), combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 tablespoons Cajun spice mix, and the heavy cream. Bring to a boil and cook for 7-10 minutes, or until reduced by at least half, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Add the cooked linguine, sautéed vegetables, shrimp, and scallops and toss to coat in the sauce, adding 1-2 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Garnish with the parsley.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the scallion whites and jalapeno and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups water, the rice, bay leaf and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low; stir, then cover and simmer until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the greens. Cover and set aside.
• Season the scallops with salt and sprinkle one side with the Cajun seasoning. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil, then the scallops, spice-side down; cook until browned and crisp, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until just cooked through, about 1 minute.
• Stir the parsley and scallion greens into the rice and season with salt. Serve with the scallops and lemon wedges.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat a skillet over high heat. Dredge scallops in spices and saute on both sides. Finish the cooking in the oven, for about 4 or 5 minutes.
• It is also wise to have all your windows open, and all your smoke alarms disconnected, considering the amount of smoke that this wonderful dish produces.
• Mix well. Store in glass or plastic container with lid.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add onion, Cajun seasoning, and pepper; saute 3 minutes. Add butter and garlic; saute 30 seconds. Add scallops; cook 1 minute or until browned. Sprinkle with hot sauce; turn. Cook 3 minutes or until done.

Steps:

• Cajun Scallops for dinner anyone? Get ready to spice up your dinner plans with this fantastic scallop recipe. ( Remember: It's always best to purchase "Dry" Sea Scallops as opposed to "wet" scallops, because a "wet" scallop has been in a bath of chemical plumping agents to make it look larger, and to have fewer scallops make up a full pound. Wet scallops are also far less flavorful than the dry.).
• Directions: Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add onion, Cajun seasoning, and pepper; sauté 3 minutes. Add butter and garlic; sauté 30 seconds. Add scallops; cook 1 minute or until browned. Sprinkle with hot sauce; turn. Cook 3 minutes or until done. Enjoy!

Steps:

• To prepare:
• Peel the shrimp and save the shells for shrimp oil or shrimp broth or discard them. Pick up a shrimp and make a shallow slit down the middle of the length of the back to expose the black intestine. Slit all the shrimp and lift out the black intestine with the point of your paring knife, or flush it out under cold running water. If using defrosted cleaned shrimp, skip this step. Either way, dry the shrimp well with paper towels and set them aside.
• Clean the sea scallops by peeling and discarding the little strip of muscle that is attached to one side. (If your scallops are somewhat old the muscle strip may not be there.) Place the scallops in a colander and wash them well under cold running water - keep an eye open for specks of dark sand. Drain the scallops well and roll them in paper towels to dry them thoroughly. If the scallops are very large, cut them into 1/2" to 3/4" pieces (it's the thickness that determines the cooking time, not how wide they are). If you're using bay scallops, don't remove the tiny strip of muscle, it's tender. Either way, set the scallops aside while you're preparing the sauce.
• Put the bacon fat or vegetable oil into a skillet or stew-type pot that's wide and deep enough to hold all the seafood in about 2 layers with about 2 cups of sauce. Place the skillet over medium-high heat and add the onion, peppers, and celery. Cook the vegetables, adjusting the heat if necessary and stirring frequently, until they have become slightly wilted and a little brown, about 5 minutes. When the vegetables are ready, turn the heat to low and stir in the garlic, thyme, oregano, bay leaf and cayenne, cooking for about 30 seconds. Add the flour and continue to stir for about 1 minute more to cook away its raw taste. Add the tomatoes and their juice, and simmer the sauce, covered, over very low heat, about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are almost tender and it's very thick. Stir the sauce once or twice during this period. Season it generously with salt, pepper, and Tabasco, and set it aside. The sauce can be made 3 or 4 days in advance and refrigerated, but be sure to heat it through before continuing with the recipe.
• In a separate bowl, mix the scallops and shrimp together and season them well with salt and pepper. (If you're using bay scallops that are smaller than 1/2" in width, don't mix them with the shrimp at this point - see Note.) Remove about one half of the sauce to a bowl, spreading the remaining sauce evenly over the bottom of the skillet or pot. Distribute the seafood evenly over the sauce in the skillet and spread the reserved sauce over the top of the seafood - it won't completely cover. Place the skillet over medium-high heat and, without stirring, heat the mixture until you see 3 or 4 bubbles at the surface. Reduce the heat to very low, tightly cover the skillet, and gently simmer the mixture until the shrimp are white throughout and the scallops are slightly translucent in the center, 8 to 12 minutes, cutting one of each to check, if you're unsure. (If you prefer, you can bake the Creole in a preheated 325°F oven once the bubbles have come to the surface.)
• The Creole will be much thinner now from the shellfish juices. Taste it for seasoning and adjust it with salt, a generous amount of pepper, and additional Tabasco, if you like.
• To serve:
• Ladle the Creole into warm soup plates or bowls, discarding the bay leaf. Sprinkle each serving with chopped parsley and serve right away.
• Note: If you've reserved bay scallops, add them approximately halfway through the cooking (depending on their size), pressing them into the simmering mixture as best as possible. Cover the skillet again and finish cooking.

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
• Meanwhile, pour cream into large skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until just about boiling. Reduce heat, and add herbs, salt, peppers, onions, and parsley. Simmer 7 to 8 minutes, or until thickened.
• Stir in seafood, cooking until shrimp is no longer transparent. Stir in cheeses, blending well.
• Drain pasta. Serve sauce over noodles.