MGoBBQ: Scallops of Vengeance
[Sponsor Note (via Seth): Lantana’s CEO Matt Gase is an avid MGoBlog reader and also a total hummus iconoclast. If you want to try some crazy good hummus, find the striped lids in your local grocer.]
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On a recent camping trip, I thought it would be fun to bring a crap ton of meats, seafood and adult beverages and toss it all over some burning wood. My local butcher is a nice guy and understands me when I ask for a crap ton. This turned out to be one of my favorite cooks in a long time as we got to enjoy the outdoors, some phenomenal seafood and a cooler full of beverages. This can be easily replicated on your gas grill or stove top on our second stop of the REVENGE TOUR.
Ingredients:
- Sea Scallops (The big suckers)
- Salt
- Lemon
- White Wine
- Butter
- Garlic (Chopped)
- Capers
[after THE JUMP: cast iron in the soul]
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We got the wood burning and basically set it up for medium heat. I had an infrared thermometer that I bought at Home Depot for about $12 and the hit the cast iron with it. Once it read 450 degrees, I knew we were hot enough to sear some scallops. As your pan is heating up, pat the scallops dry with paper towel. If they are still moist on the exterior, you will not get the sear on the outside that you need. This is a very important step. Once they are dry, sprinkle with some sea salt.
My cast iron pans are well seasoned and did not require any oil. if you need to, season your pan with a little oil. Place the scallops on the pan and listen to the sizzle. I love that sound, no matter what I’m cooking. Make sure the local stray dog has a comfy place to chill as well. These scallops will go for about 60 - 75 seconds a side. You want that nice brown exterior on each side. If you try and flip them and they are sticking, they are not ready to flip. They will release once they are ready.
Once both sides have that beautiful brown crust, remove them from the pan and set aside.
Add about a 1/2 cup of your favorite dry white wine. We went with Sauvignon Blanc for this one. Deglaze the pan and let it simmer for a few minutes.
After 2 minutes, add another cup of wine along with some chopped garlic and capers. I love the salty flavor from the capers. Put this over high heat and bring to a boil.
Once it has reduced to half, add the butter. Once combined, add the scallops back to the pan and baste with the sauce for 30 seconds. You can add some parsley if you’d like, but it’s not mandatory.
Once the sauce and scallops are combined, add some lemon juice and remove from the heat. You do not want to overcook these scallops as they will become rubbery. If you have a nice loaf of french bread laying around, toss that on the grill too. It’s a good sauce mop.
We served this with a nice grilled salad, topped with a Lantana Hummus Vinaigrette. This one is easy. Mix 1/2 cup of your favorite flavor of Lantana Hummus with 2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar, 2 TBS water, salt, pepper and some minced shallot. Slowly drizzle in 6 TBS of olive oil and you’re all set. If you like it sweeter, add a TBS of maple syrup. This is a killer combo on some grilled romaine. Plus, Creepy guy likes it.
Please follow me on Instagram at @GOBLUEBBQ if you want to see more fun cooks. Since we are off next week, I will be heading to Tallahassee to watch FSU battle Clemson and help my buddy Gentry with his legendary FSU tailgate. It should be a blast.
See you in a few weeks.
October 18th, 2018 at 3:10 PM ^
Winner Winner Scallop Dinner. I might give this a try just for variety alone. Maybe give some cow a break.
October 18th, 2018 at 7:12 PM ^
Just throw a hunk of meat next to it. Surf N Turf baby!!!!!
Go Blue
October 18th, 2018 at 3:11 PM ^
Nice food porn line
Place the scallops on the pan and listen to the sizzle. I love that sound, no matter what I’m cooking.
sizzle for me, baby.
October 18th, 2018 at 3:22 PM ^
Wow, does that look good. I'm going to have to try this, as I love scallops. One problem I've had when ordering them in restaurants is they come too mushy and not done enough for my liking. The key is to get them just slightly firm but tender, and not rubbery.
October 18th, 2018 at 4:01 PM ^
Or not done enough and sends your entire business dinner party to the ER with major case of evacuations. Nothing like laying next to the potential client both getting IVs and turning green and purple. Can’t even look at a scallop now without getting queasy.
October 18th, 2018 at 5:11 PM ^
But did you close the deal?
October 18th, 2018 at 6:48 PM ^
My late mother-in-law could definitely identify with that problem. One time she got very sick from scallops after ordering them at some restaurant. (No, that wasn't how she died) She never ordered them after that. So, yes, scallops like many shellfish have a higher probability of food poisoning.
October 18th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
That sucks!!!! That would turn me off all seafood for a very long time.
Go Blue
Joe
October 18th, 2018 at 4:01 PM ^
When a scallop is cooked right, it's a beautiful thing. They're generally poor price performers -- I've spent $39 for 3 scallops in a high-end restaurant -- but boy oh boy, are they good.
October 18th, 2018 at 7:11 PM ^
It's a time sensitive cook for sure. I never order them in restaurants as they are too pricey. It's a rare dinner at my house, but always a tasty and fun cook.
Joe
October 19th, 2018 at 12:14 PM ^
I hate ordering them in a restaurant because they generally give you like 3-5 sea scallops for like $20+. And they rarely have a good sear on them. Plus at my local grocery store, I can get an entire pound for $18. Occasionally they'll have a sale where its $12 for a pound.
The perks of living near the coast.
October 18th, 2018 at 3:34 PM ^
do not forget to take off the foot!! If you don't you will get a big bite of grainy sand. Definitely no bueno.
https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-buy-clean-and-cook-scal-91521
October 18th, 2018 at 7:07 PM ^
Nice addition. I've only run into the sandy bite once, but if you have time to do it, it cant hurt. Thanks for the great link.
Go Blue
Joe
October 18th, 2018 at 3:41 PM ^
Damn that looks good.
October 18th, 2018 at 3:48 PM ^
You want to use dry pack scallops. They’re expensive, but they aren’t soaking in and soaking up whatever it is they put them in. Chopped flat-leaf parsley adds a little flavor and a lot of color.
October 18th, 2018 at 4:05 PM ^
Nice! Really hard to go wrong w/ white wine, lemon and butter. Capers or parsley give it some pizzaz ... red pepper flakes good too for a little sneak attack.
But scallops themselves ... eh ... they're fine, but I think I'd rather do this recipe w/ shrimp.
October 18th, 2018 at 7:05 PM ^
I do love me some shrimp cooked exactly the same way. Great call!
Joe
October 19th, 2018 at 5:50 AM ^
You got that right. Piccata works with chicken and veal as well and would probably work with pork too.
October 18th, 2018 at 5:27 PM ^
Those scallops look perfect, love me some cast iron scallops!!
October 18th, 2018 at 7:04 PM ^
You can't go wrong with either cast iron or a salt block.
Go Blue!
October 18th, 2018 at 5:42 PM ^
thanks for this!!! Appreciate it always
October 18th, 2018 at 7:03 PM ^
You're welcome. They were fun and tasty.
Go Blue
October 18th, 2018 at 9:29 PM ^
Yay! You’re back!
October 18th, 2018 at 10:18 PM ^
That's some beautiful food.
October 18th, 2018 at 10:19 PM ^
Also: how did you season your cast iron, and how do you clean it to keep the seasoning?
October 19th, 2018 at 1:10 PM ^
I use a product called CRISBEE PUCK. It's a beeswax that works great. Once seasoned, I just rinse with warm water and paper towel to keep it seasoned. Never use a scouring pad or abrasive to clean.
Good luck
Joe
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