Pan Seared Scallops with Lemon Caper Sauce

by Mary Sacks

This recipe walks you through a brining and drying process to prepare the scallops for cooking. This step is time well spent because it ensures a tender and good browning without overcooking the scallops.

Brinning and Drying Scallops

Ingredients

⅓ cup kosher salt
1 cup hot water
4 cups ice water
1 lb. large scallops, 1½ inches wide, about 14 to 16

Directions

In a medium bowl combine salt and hot water, stirring to dissolve the salt. Add ice water to cool the brine. Add scallops to the brine and let stand for 10 minutes. Line a sheet pan with paper towels set aside.
Drain the scallops, rinse under cold water, and then arrange in a single layer on the paper towel-lined sheet pan. Place another paper towel on top of the scallops and gently pat scallops. Remove as much surface moisture as possible for the best browning results when cooked.
Allow scallops to sit for 10 minutes at room temperature before cooking.

Preparing Dish

Ingredients

3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
½ cup white wine (optional)
1 cup prepared RBC Seafood Broth
1 tsp. lemon zest
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 Tbsp. capers, rinsed
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
black pepper, for seasoning
1 Tbsp. chopped dill
1 tsp. chopped chives
6 lemon wedges

Directions

In a 12-inch saute pan or cast iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat until oil ripples as it just begins to smoke.
Place scallops into the hot pan without crowding. Gently press scallops with a spatula to make direct contact with the pan.
Sear scallops without moving them, continuing to cook until bottoms are a rich golden brown, 3-3½ minutes.
Add butter to the pan. Turn the scallops over and cook the second side. Use a spoon to baste the scallops with the butter, tilting the pan to collect the butter as needed.
When the scallops are opaque in color and firm to the touch, about 1-2 minutes, turn off heat and transfer to a plate, do not discard pan.
In the same pan used for cooking the scallops turn heat to medium. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant but not browned.
Increase heat to medium-high and add wine. Simmer wine, stirring as needed until the wine is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
Turn heat to high and add RBC Seafood Broth, lemon zest, lemon juice and capers to the pan. Cook until sauce is reduced by half, about ½ cup, 8-10 minutes.
Turn off heat and whisk in Dijon mustard.
Turn heat to medium and add scallops back to pan, cook until warm, about 2 minutes.
Taste sauce and season with salt and pepper as needed.
Garnish scallops with chopped dill, chives and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Food for Thought

Brining and Drying Scallops. The purpose of the brine is to help the scallops hold moisture so that they do not dry out during the cooking process. Drying the surface of the scallop will encourage the browning process.
Seafood Broth. If not available, you can always use chicken or vegetable.