Scallops In A Leek And Lemon Butter Sauce

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter, divided
1 large leek (white and pale green part only), thinly sliced
1 tablespoon water
1 cup dry white wine
2 shallots, minced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 fresh thyme sprig
6 large sea fresh scallops
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter for the sauce, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

For the spinach

10 oz package of frozen spinach, defrosted
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions

For the leeks:

Wash the leeks well to rid them of sand. Drain.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium skillet with a cover over medium low heat. Add the sliced leeks and water.

Cover and simmer until the leeks are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Remove the leeks to a bowl and cover while the other ingredients are being prepared.

For the sauce:

In a small saucepan boil the white wine, shallots, lemon juice and fresh thyme sprig until the mixture is reduced to half.

Strain the sauce into a measuring cup. Reserve the pot.

For the scallops:

Remove the side muscle from the scallops and dry the scallops well on a paper towel. Sprinkle the scallops with salt and pepper.

Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in the skillet that the leeks were cooked in over medium-high heat.

Add the scallops and saute until cooked through, about 3 minutes. Place the scallops on a plate and cover with foil.

Pour the wine sauce into the skillet and bring to simmer. Gradually add the cold butter cubes to the sauce, whisking just until melted.

Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the leeks and warm the mixture.

For the spinach:

Heat the olive oil and garlic in the small saucepan that the sauce was made in and add the spinach. Cook just until the spinach is hot.

Remove the pan from the heat.

To assemble the dish:

Divide the leek sauce in half and pour into the center of two round individual pasta bowls.

Place 3 scallops over the leek sauce in each dish.

Arrange the cooked spinach around the scallops in each dish and serve.


Posted by in butter, Dinner, Fish, Garlic, leeks, lemon, Sauces, scallops, spinach, Vegetables Tags: