CARAMELIZED SCALLOPS
Toss seared scallops with a flavorful caramel sauce for a simple, yet elegant, meal that’s perfect for date nights. Serve with wide rice noodles and sugar snap peas. If you like scallops, you’ll really enjoy this recipe. The sweetness from the scallops balance nicely with the acidity from lime and ginger.
Level of difficulty: medium
Portions: 2 servings (serving size: 3 scallops)
Ingredients
3 1/2 teaspoons sugar, divided
5 teaspoons water, divided
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Cooking spray
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 large sea scallops (about 12 ounces)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh mint
2 lime wedges
Method
- Combine 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon water, fish sauce, and next 4 ingredients (through red pepper) in a small bowl
- Combine remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and remaining 2 teaspoons water in a small heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until sugar dissolves. Continue cooking 2 minutes or until golden. Remove from heat; carefully add fish sauce mixture, stirring constantly. Keep warm
- Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle black pepper over scallops; add scallops to pan. Cook 1 1/2 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Add sauce; toss well. Sprinkle with mint. Serve with lime
- Wide rice noodles and sugar snap peas: Steam 6 ounces sugar snap peas 2 minutes or until crisp-tender; place in bowl. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil to peas; toss well. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
