Sea Scallops over Leeks with Mango Curry Chutney Sauce
- 3 tablespoons grapeseed oil (1 tablespoon to saute the leeks, 1 tablespoon to saute the onion and garlic for the sauce, and 1 tablespoon to sear the scallops)
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick or 1/4 cup) butter, (1 tablespoon to saute the leeks, 1 tablespoon to sear the scallops, and 2 tablespoons to whisk into the sauce)
- 4 leeks, white and tender greens parts only, soaked in salt water to remove grit and sliced on the bias into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 cups mango/peach juice (preferably with no additional sugar added)
- 2 tablespoons mild curry paste
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (recommended: Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Chips)
- 8 (U-10) sea scallops
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons dark cocoa (recommended: Hershey's Cocoa Special Dark Chocolate)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the grapeseed oil over medium heat in a large saute pan and add 1 tablespoon of the butter (reserving the other 2 tablespoons oil and the other 3 tablespoons butter).
- Reduce the heat to low and slowly cook the leeks until tender.
- Transfer to a utility platter, cover and keep warm.
- (Keep the same pan handy to sear the scallops.)
- While the leeks are cooking, in a separate medium saucepot heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat (reserving the last tablespoon of oil) and saute the onion and garlic until the onion becomes translucent.
- Add the mango peach juice and curry paste and let reduce by two-thirds.
- Whisk in the chocolate chips and cook for about 10 minutes to integrate flavors.
- While the sauce is cooking, dust the scallops on both sides with chili powder and cocoa powder, and season with a little salt.
- Return to the saucepot, and reduce the heat to low.
- Take 1/4 cup of the hot sauce and put it into a separate bowl.
- Gradually add the sour cream into the hot sauce, a spoonful at a time to temper the sour cream and keep it from "breaking."
- Gradually add the bowl of tempered sour cream to the sauce a little at a time and allow to thicken over low heat, about 5 more minutes.
- While the sauce is thickening, return to the pan in which you sauteed the leeks and if you have not already done so, remove them to a utility platter to keep warm.
- Wipe out the same pan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat to the smoking point and melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in it (reserving the last 2 tablespoons of butter).
- Sear each side of the scallop leaving undisturbed for the first 2 minutes or so to let the caramelization process to begin.
- This will not only allow the seasonings integrate into the surface of the scallops, but will prevent tearing.
- Further cook the scallops until you see (from the side) that they are beginning to turn opaque inside.
- When you notice that the opacity extends about 1/4 of the way down from each flat side of the scallop, remove the scallops to a plate and cover them with a pot lid to allow carryover cooking to take over, to avoid overcooking the scallops.
- Spoon some leeks into the center of serving plate.
- Top with scallops and spoon curry sauce around.
grapeseed oil, butter, leeks, onion, garlic, mango, curry paste, chocolate chips, chili powder, dark cocoa, salt, sour cream
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sea-scallops-over-leeks-with-mango-curry-chutney-sauce-recipe.html (may not work)