Seared Scallop Bites

We have a few gold standard appetizers in our house. This is one of them- we have made it for YEARS. It is simple and elegant.

I don’t know if it started when we were on a tighter financial budget, but we use half of a scallop on each bite-sized appetizer. The scallops go further- of course- but they also cook faster and are more buttery as well. Why mess with perfection? 🙂 The recipe is adapted from Cocktail Food: 50 Finger Foods with Attitude by Mary Corpening Barber and Sara Corpening Whiteford with Lori Lyn Narlock.

The original recipe provides instructions to make parmesan crisps to serve each seared scallop on. The first time I ever made this dish, I attempted to make these crisps (with much frustration)… never again! From then on we have always used bite-sized melba toast instead and they are absolutely perfect (& much easier!). With slivers of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano topping each toast- spectacular!!

Yield: Makes 12 bites

• 6 sea scallops, each sliced in half (in height), yielding 12 equal disks
• coarse salt
• freshly ground black pepper or white pepper
• 4 T unsalted butter
• white truffle oil, optional
• 12 bite-sized melba toast
• 1 T finely chopped fresh chives
• 12 thin slivers of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (I use a vegetable peeler)

1. Dry the surface of the scallops with a paper towel; season with salt and pepper.
2. Melt 2 T of the butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat.
3. Add half of the scallops (make sure not to overcrowd) and cook until barely cooked through.
4. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
5. Wipe out the skillet and return to the stove over medium heat. Melt the 2 remaining T of butter in the skillet.
6. Add the remaining scallops and cook until barely cooked through, about 2 minutes. Set aside with the other scallops.
7. To assemble: Top each melba toast with a sliver of Parmigiano-Reggiano, then top with a scallop. Drizzle with white truffle oil, if using, and sprinkle with chives.
8. Serve immediately.

One Year Ago:

• Clams Casino

Two Years Ago:

• Tortilla Espanola
• Minestrone

Bruschetta Bianca

This is our favorite special winter appetizer. It is luxurious yet messy and rustic. I use my favorite sourdough baguette, rub garlic on BOTH sides (such intense garlic flavor), and then top it with aged balsamic vinegar, white truffle oil, and parmesan. GREAT. This recipe was adapted from The Union Square Cafe Cookbook: 160 Favorite Recipes from New York’s Acclaimed Restaurant by Danny Meyer and Michael Romano. Delicious!

This is my first contribution to “Fiesta Friday” (#5 this week) on one of my favorite blogs- The Novice Gardener– so inspiring and fun- check it out!

• 6 1-inch slices sourdough or whole wheat peasant bread (I used a sourdough baguette)
• 1 large garlic clove, cut in half lengthwise
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt
• 1/2 tsp aged balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze (I don’t measure – I just drizzle)
• 1/4 cup white truffle oil (I don’t measure – I just drizzle)
• Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler into thin shards
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1. Grill or toast the bread slices until golden brown.
2. While the toast is still warm, rub each piece on both sides with the garlic halves. (The garlic will melt into the bread.) Season with sea salt.
3. Drizzle each piece of toast with equal amounts of the balsamic vinegar and truffle oil.
4. Place the shaved Parmigiano on the toasts and drizzle the remaining (or to taste) truffle oil over the cheese, if desired. (I often skip this step.) Lightly sprinkle each brushetta with pepper and serve.

One Year Ago:

• Macaroni Baked in Yogurt (Arshda Madznov)