Seared Scallops with Lemon and Vodka

Name: Seared Scallops with Lemon and Vodka
Yield: 4 servings as an hors d'oeuvre, 2 servings as a main dish
Ingredients: 1 pound sea scallops; 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil; 2/3 cup vodka; 2 tablespoons heavy cream; 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest; 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves

Scallops Lemons Searing Pasta Dinner Party Vodka Shellfish Lunch Appetizer Californian Easy

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4 servings as an hors d'oeuvre, 2 servings as a main dish Easy

Total: 15 mins Active: 15 mins

17 Ratings

Ingredients (7)

1 pound sea scallops
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
2/3 cup vodka
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves

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Nutritional Information

Calories233
Fat7.91g
Saturated fat2.51g
Trans fat0.01g
Carbs4.59g
Fiber0.13g
Sugar0.32g
Protein14.05g
Cholesterol37.49mg
Sodium448.46mg
Nutritional Analysis per serving (4 servings) Powered by

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Dress up seared scallops with lemon, cream, and a whole lot of tarragon for a delicate dish that’s delicious as is or tossed with pasta.

Game plan: To serve over pasta, prepare 1/2 pound spaghetti or linguine and reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water. Add cooked pasta to sauce with enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to reach desired consistency. Toss to coat pasta, add tarragon, and return scallops to pan.

by Aida Mollenkamp

Instructions

1Pat scallops dry with paper towels, rub with 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
2Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large frying pan over high heat. When oil shimmers, add scallops and cook on each side until golden brown, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to a plate and reserve.
3Remove the pan from heat and carefully add vodka, scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, and stir to incorporate into the sauce. Return the pan to medium-low heat and add cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest; stir to combine. Return scallops and any accumulated juices to the pan and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
4Stir in tarragon and serve with bread as an hors d’oeuvre or over pasta as a main course.

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