Maple Seared Scallops Recipes

Steps:

• Remove the small side muscle from the scallops, rinse with cold water and thoroughly pat dry.
• Add the butter and oil to a 12 to 14-inch saute pan on high heat. Salt and pepper the scallops. Once the fat begins to smoke, gently add the scallops, making sure they are not touching each other. Sear the scallops for 1 1/2 minutes on each side. The scallops should have a 1/4-inch golden crust on each side while still being translucent in the center. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Place a layer of paper towels on top of a large plate or baking sheet and gently lay the sea scallops on top to rid them of any excess moisture. With the scallops still on the paper towel, grab a large pinch of kosher salt and sprinkle it from a foot or more over the scallops. The height will help distribute the salt evenly.
• Use a pepper grinder to crack fresh black pepper in the same manner, getting every scallop.
• Flip the scallops and season the other side. This is important!
• Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed stainless-steel saute pan over high heat. Do not use nonstick-you'll never achieve the proper caramelization!
• Wait.
• Wait.
• Watch as the pan begins to smoke.
• Now, carefully, because the pan and oil are very hot, use tongs or your fingers to place each scallop individually in the pan, leaving room between them. Once the scallops are in the pan, do not move them or the pan or turn the heat down. You're going to want to, because the pan will be hot and splattering and smoking, but resist! You're getting your hard sear. Don't interfere or the scallops will stick.
• After 2 minutes, use a spatula or tongs to gently turn one of the scallops and assess how dark the sear is. If it's dark brown and caramelized, it's ready to be flipped and seared on the other side for at least 2 minutes more to achieve an identical sear.
• When the scallops have been flipped and seared on both sides, they're fully cooked and ready to eat. Remove them from the pan using tongs or a spatula. Add the butter to the pan and a squeeze of lemon juice and scrape up the bit on the pan to create a sauce. Serve the scallops hot and topped with the pan sauce and another squeeze of fresh lemon juice on top.

Steps:

• Sauté the bacon and pour off the fat.
• Cool and crumble; set aside.
• Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium high heat.
• Briefly sauté the scallops until heated through, about 3 minutes.
• Remove with a slotted spoon to a warm bowl.
• Add the half and half to the scallop liquid and boil the cream, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about ¾ cup.
• Keep an eye on the heat and lower to medium, maintaining a steady reduction.
• Add the mustard, maple syrup and pour in any juices collected in scallop bowl.
• Boil for another 3 to 4 minutes until reduced again to sauce consistency.
• Add the scallops and crumbled bacon to the sauce, toss quickly and serve immediately.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the lime juice, maple syrup, mustard, garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Season with pepper.
• Add the bacon and olive oil to a large, cold skillet. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is very crispy but not burned, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and carefully pour all but 2 tablespoons of the fat in the pan into a heatproof dish or jar. Place the pan back on the heat.
• Pat the scallops dry with a cloth or paper towel, and season with salt on all sides. Carefully place each scallop, flat side down, into the hot fat and cook, without touching, until nicely golden brown on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook briefly this time until very lightly golden, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the brussels sprouts to the hot pan, making sure each one is turned cut side down. Season with salt and pepper and cook, still over medium-high and without touching, until brown and slightly charred on that one side, 2 to 3 minutes. Add more bacon fat as needed to keep the pan coated. Now gently shake the pan or stir with a spoon to stir-fry briefly, just a few seconds.
• When the brussels sprouts are charred on the cut sides and bright green on the rounded sides, transfer them to the plate with the scallops. In the now-empty pan, add the lime juice mixture and cook, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat until it bubbles up and reduces by more than half and a spoon dragged through the pan leaves a naked trail in the lime glaze, 2 to 5 minutes. It should look sticky like melted candy.
• Remove the pan from the heat and return the scallops to the pan, tossing in the butter as well. Stir until the butter is fully melted and incorporated into the lime glaze. This residual heat should also finish heating your scallops. Add back the seared brussels sprouts and bacon and gently toss in the glaze. Garnish with the chives.
• Serve right from the pan if you'd like with a side of crusty bread or bowls of rice.

Steps:

• Heat a non-stick saucepan until very hot. Carefully add the oil. Add a few scallops at a time and sear both sides until they are cooked through. Remove scallops to a plate. Deglaze pan with vinegar. Add the maple syrup and cook until mixture thickens. Return scallops to the sauce pan and toss gently to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately. This recipe yields 4 servings.