Sarasota's Seared Scallops With Spinach and a Curry Sauce
- 2 lbs sea scallops
- 4 cups couscous, cooked (I like to use a garlic couscous, but plain will be just fine, also I like to cook mine in chicken br)
- 3 cups Baby Spinach (4 oz spinach, a little more than 1/2 bag of pre-washed)
- 1 medium onion, cut in quarters and thin sliced
- 3 scallions, thin sliced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 23 cup chicken broth
- 1 14 cups half-and-half
- 2 12 teaspoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped fine (parsley will work also)
- 3 teaspoons butter (1 for the onion, 2 for the scallops)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- Couscous -- How easy - just heat up the liquid (I use chicken broth, vegetable would work too, or just water) in a bowl in the microwave to a boil.
- Follow package direction for the amount of liquid needed.
- Once the water comes to a boil, remove, add the couscous, stir, cover with plastic wrap, and 5 minutes later - it is done.
- Just set off to the side as the scallops and sauce don't take long to cook.
- Before serving, I fluff the couscous with a fork and add in the thin sliced scallions, cilantro, salt and pepper.
- Scallops -- As the couscous rests, start the sauce and scallops.
- In a large sauce pan, heat to medium high and add 2 teaspoons of butter and 1 teaspoon olive oil.
- Season the scallops with salt and pepper on each side.
- And don't forget -- room temperature, you don't want them cold and right out of the refrigerator.
- Sear the scallops on 1 side until golden brown (it will only take a couple of minutes), and don't move them around - just let them cook.
- Turn them over and cook another minute until brown, but DON'T over cook, they will continue to cook when you reheat them in the sauce.
- Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm as you make the sauce.
- Sauce -- In the same pan you cooked the scallops, add 1 teaspoon more butter and cook the garlic and onions for 3-4 minutes until tender on medium.
- Stir in the curry powder and cook another minute until everything is combined and the flavor is absorbed by the onions.
- Puree -- Transfer the curried onions to a blender and add the broth, tomato paste and half and half and pulse a few times until good and creamy.
- Then return the sauce to the pan and back on medium heat.
- Not too high because you don't want the cream to curdle.
- Add in the spinach and toss well, then the scallops and simply cook another minute to let the scallops reheat and the spinach wilts.
- Check for seasoning one last time.
- It is done!
- Serve -- Add one (1) cup of couscous to each plate and top with the curried scallops and spinach.
- Now, I happen to like some roasted grape tomatoes with this, but use your favorite vegetable.
- ENJOY!
- They are mild but flavorful!
- ENJOY.
scallops, couscous, onion, scallions, garlic, chicken broth, tomato paste, curry powder, fresh cilantro, butter, olive oil, salt, pepper
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/sarasotas-seared-scallops-with-spinach-and-a-curry-sauce-403634 (may not work)