Photo: c. foodblogchef 2021
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BLACKENED SCALLOPS WITH CILANTRO LIME SAUCE
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
· 12 large sea scallops
· Blackening spice
· Sea salt
· Black pepper
· 4 tablespoons butter
· 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
· 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
· 2 garlic cloves, minced
· 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
· 1 1/2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
· 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
· Avocado-tomato relish- *Optional see below
Preparation:
Preheat your cast iron skillet(s) over high heat (use your grill to avoid filling your house with smoke when blackening the scallops)
1. Add the olive oil and cilantro along with the garlic, lime juice, soy sauce, and crushed red pepper to a blender (or Magic Bullet) and process until smooth.
2. Melt the butter and dip each scallop in the butter first then into the blackening spice.
3. Lightly oil the very hot skillet and gently place 6 scallops on the skillet. Don’t move the scallops for two minutes, then gently turn over each scallop for another 2 minutes. Repeat with the other 6 scallops if you don’t have two skillets to work with.
4. Sauce 4 plates and place three scallops atop along with your garnish of choice.
*Optional: serve the scallops alongside a tablespoon of chopped avocado and tomato relish dressed with a squeeze of lime juice and a drizzle of olive oil.
Note: If you don’t want to blacken the scallops, toss the scallops in the sauce and sear them on a hot cast-iron skillet for two minutes per side basting with a drizzle of the sauce.