Coquilles Saint Jacques
<p>Coquilles Saint-Jacques recipe is traditionally served on little scallop shells, but ovenproof ramekins are a great substitution. It features scallops and onions, sautéed in butter with seasonings, and then made even richer with a Gruyere and breadcumb topping. Coquilles Saint-Jacques is most often eaten as a first course, or appetizer, but can be used as a delicious seafood entrée.</p>
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Pre-heat the grill pretty hot</li>
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Peel and dice the potatoes and set them on to boil. Keep an eye on them and remove and drain as soon as they are cooked.</li>
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Slice the back bacon into thin strips and pop into a bowl with a glug of olive oil to coat them. Then place on a baking tray laying out so they are twisted or in curves (just so they look prettier as a garnish). Place the tray under the grill. Keep an eye on these, you want to take them out and reserve them once they have crisped a bit.</li>
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Put a heavy-based frying pan on a high heat. Add a large knob of butter and a glug of olive oil and allow this to get smoking hot.</li>
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Pat the scallops dry on kitchen paper and then cut them in half.</li>
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Once the butter is smoking, add the scallops to the pan, using a wooden spatula, move them around as they cook. Cook them for about 2 minutes and then reserve them.</li>
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Turn the heat right down on the pan. Add the chopped garlic and sliced shallots and cook gently until the shallots have softened.</li>
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Turn the heat back to high under the pan, and now deglaze the pan with a large glass of white wine. Allow this to reduce so there is almost no liquid left.</li>
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Drop the heat under the pan back to low and add the double cream.</li>
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Add the scallops back into the pan and allow to warm through for a minute.</li>
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Meanwhile using a piping bag, pipe mashed potatoe around the edges of the two scallop shells.</li>
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Add the scallops and cream into the scallop shells.</li>
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Sprinkle a light coating of breadcrumbs and then the cheese onto the scallops.</li>
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Place under the grill for a few minutes until the top browns.</li>
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Garnish with a couple of pieces of bacon.</li>
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