I am not a big seafood fan (sigh). I was forty before I decided that sea scallops were delicious. How can a girl like me who thinks about food 24/7, not enjoy seafood? Should I admit that I was born and raised in South Florida, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and would not touch the abundance of fresh seafood? I should not admit it, but it’s the truth. Since I am baring my food soul should I admit that I could eat tuna (from the can) salad sandwiches with wild abandon? It’s a sad state of affairs for a food lover.
These days, I do make an effort to continue to re-discover seafood as the opportunity presents itself. One of my favorites is scallops. This dish prepared by my husband is a meaty sea scallop dish, blackened in a spice mixture and then seared in a smoking cast-iron pan. Served up with a simple vinaigrette of green onions and a smoky tomato relish provides a fresh vibrancy to the dish.
The ingredient list is long but it is really an uncomplicated dish to prepare, so worth the effort.
The sea scallops cook quickly in the smoking hot cast iron pan searing the flavor mixture. Remember when blackening meat was all the craze?
The finished scallop dish is a celebration of flavors.
Blackened Sea Scallops with Green Onion Vinaigrette and Roasted Tomato Relish
Serves 4
Recipe from Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain
Roasted Tomato Relish
4 ripe plum tomatoes, roasted halved, seeded, and diced
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 green onions, green part only, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
To Roast Tomatoes:
Preheat the broiler or heat a grill pan over high heat. Brush tomatoes with 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper. Broil and grill, turning a few times, until entire surfaced is blackened, about 5 minutes. Remove let cool slightly. Slice in half, remove the seeds, and dice.
Sea Scallops
3 tablespoons smoked sweet Spanish paprika
1 tablespoon ground ancho chile
1 tablespoon ground pasilla chile
1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
20- U-10 sea scallops, muscles removed
1/4 cup canola oil
Kosher salt
Green onion vinaigrette (recipe follows)
Green Onion Vinaigrette (makes about 2/3 cup)
1/4 cup white wine
1 small shallot, chopped
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon honey
6 green onions, green part only, chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions Green Onion Vinaigrette
Combine the vinegar, 1/4 cup water, the shallot, mayonnaise, and honey in a blender and blend until combined. Add the green onions and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. The vinaigrette can be prepared 4 hours in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Directions:
1. To make the tomato relish, put the tomatoes, red onion, green onions, vinegar, and olive oil in a medium bowl and mix gently to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
2. To cook the sea scallops, combine the paprika, ancho, and pasilla powders, white and black pepper, thyme, oregano, onion and garlic powders, and celery salt in a medium shallow bowl.
3. Heat a large cast-iron pan over high heat until it begins to smoke. Brush the scallops on both sides with oil and season with salt. Dredge one side of each scallop in the spice rub and put the scallops in the pan spice side down. Cook until browned and a crust has formed, 1-1/2 to 2 minutes. Turn the scallops over and continue to cook until just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes longer.
4. Divide the scallops among 4 large dinner plates, top each scallop with some of the tomato relish. drizzle with vinaigrette, and sprinkle some green onion on top.
Enjoy!
LaDivaCucina
Velva, I'm glad you are discovering the deliciousness that is seafood! This looks really good, tell hubby WELL DONE!
Chris
I make a mean blackened redfish for the boys (I hate fish so I don't eat it) but I could handle scallops, what a great idea, Velva.
Karen (Back Road Journal)
I think if I had to decide on only one fresh seafood, I would probably pick sea scallops. They have such a delicate flavor and nice texture. The blackened ones sound great.
Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes
I love sea scallops! I just bought some from the pier in Portland, Maine and brought them home to Massachusetts! This looks like a very tasty dish! I'll be giving this recipe a try!
Katerina
Oh Velva I have my issues too regarding fish! I live in a country that is surrounded by sea and I don't particularly like fish, silly ha? Anyway, I do an effort too to appreciate it more so we'll see. On the other hand your scallops are awesome and I would be more than glad to have a plate or even two, delicious!
That Girl
I'm a food lover who doesn't like seafood – not even scallops which always taste fishy and sandy to me! You're in good company.
From Beyond My Kitchen Window
I love seafood and I'm also on the seafood diet.I see food and I eat. Sorry , bad old joke. Your blackened scallops look delectable. Sea scallops are so tender and sweet. The list is long, but not difficult in the least. This would be an ideal recipe to try.
Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen
I too am glad you are enjoying seafood. It is perhaps my all time favorite. And I certainly didn't grow up eating seafood in land-locked SW Arkansas where muddy Mississippi catfish was called seafood.We love scallops but find the good ones are hard to find. Will definitely try your recipe Velva.Sam
Kim
Hooray for Bobby Flay! These scallops look beautiful with the red and green garnishes. I've always enjoyed seafood, but I do have a hard time with fish. Like you, I'm coming around. With recipes like this it's a little easier.
Big Dude
Your plated meal looks awesome Velva – I like each componenet. We love blackened fish but have not tried scallops – but will soon. Bev grew up with a mom who didn't care for fish so her repertoire is limited to fish that isn't fishy, prefers canned to fresh tuna, except she loves fried oysters – go figure.
Unknown
This is a really beautiful plate of food! What awesome flavors! I'm a big seafood'er so this is for me! You're brave to share your food soul secrets 😉
Delectably Green
SO delicious – I've been thinking of cooking scallops for weeks now and not got around to it – I think you've just given me the push I need!Mary x
Vicki Lane
Sam of MY CAROLINA KITCHEN sent me here — and how glad I am. This looks like a wonderful dish.
Lori
And here I am wishing I live for at least 6 months in a seafood-rich location. 🙂 We are starved for it here in central KY and Indiana. We are seafood lovers though and would really enjoy these scallops.
Rosaria Williams
This is a great recipe!I see from the other scallop recipes on the side bar that you love them. For me, moving to Florida opened up lots of possibility for seafood meals. We no longer live in Tallahassee and frequent the Apalachicola Oyster Festival to my heart's content, but I now look forward to fresh trout, salmon, tuna and cod on a regular basis as they come off ocean and river boats here in the Pacific Northwest.
tasteofbeirut
I would love to have this dish prepared for me! I remembered the blackened seafood craze and how I used to make all of Chef Paul Prudhomme's recipes with his spice mixes!
Hungry Dog
These sound incredible. I love scallops, can never seem to cook them just right but I do adore them. Nice job with the browning/blackening!
Claudia
I love (most) seafood but am very fussy about scallops – something about the texture. But oh man – all those herbs and that tomato relish – must try – but will wait for the good tomatoes. Bookmarked.
scrambledhenfruit
I do love seafood, but know lots of people who don't. My granddad was a waterman so maybe it's in my blood. 🙂 Those scallops look mighty good to me!
T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types
I've come to appreciate seafood over the years. I don't know if I was quite there when I was younger. Scallops has been one of my favorites. I haven't made them in years.
Dining Alone
Those scallops look awesome, I wish I had access to more fresh seafood!
Angie's Recipes
I am a big seafood fan…only wish I could get some quality seafood at reasonable price over here. These scallops are divine!
[email protected]
This meal looks so beautiful! I adore blackened scallops. That relish sounds delish – I bet it is great on everything from seafood to sandwiches!
The JR
My hubby would have wanted all 4 on his plate!
Kitchen Belleicious
I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE scallops. These look amazing and so tender and perfectly cooked. Love the blackened seasoning (says the southern gal)
Fresh Local and Best
\”Remember when blackening meat was all the craze?\” — I didn't know it went out of style. LOL! I love scallops and the tomato relish it even more irresistible.
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
I rarely eat scallops in restaurants because you never know if they will be prepared well or not but making them at home, I know what I'm getting. This sounds like a wonderful way to prepare them and scallops are among the most healthy sea foods to eat.
Susan Fields
Seafood is my absolute favorite! Unfortunately I'm about as far away from a coast as it's possible to get. :(This recipe looks and sounds delicious!
teresa
gosh, i wish i could get my hubby to like sea scallops. these look amazing!
Marina
I am a seafood fan, bid time! Love your creation!
Mimi
I love seafood. The only fish I knew growing up was fish sticks and I live in San Diego. Lucky for me in my college years I discovered just how fantastic fresh fish can be. These scallops will be on our table soon.Mimi
Anonymous
My husband loves scallops. Me? Not so much. But you make them look so tantalizing. I may have to try this one….for my husband's sake, of course.
amy @ fearless homemaker
i absolutely love scallops, even though i'm not wild about most seafood. these look absolutely divine!
Miss Meat and Potatoes
Did you just say green onion vinaigrette?!? Holy cow. I am in love!
Anonymous
Blackened scallops sound awesome, and roasted tomato relish a perfect accompaniment!
Judy
You can't go wrong with a Bobby Flay recipe, he's the best. I never even tasted fresh salmon till I was 55. Fish has grown on me.
Magic of Spice
Beautiful blackened scallops, and what a gorgeous combination of flavors…stunning dish!