Saigonnais scallop seviche

6 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
3poundsBay or small scallops
¼cupFresh lemon juice
1teaspoonOil
¼cupChopped shallots
tablespoonFish sauce (nuoc mam)
6tablespoonsSugar
3ouncesFresh rau ram (an aromatic leaf); sliced hair-thin
3ouncesFresh basil; sliced hair-thin
3tablespoonsFresh ginger; sliced hair-thin
cupGround unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
1teaspoonChili paste
Oil for deep frying
¼poundsPrawn crackers
Lettuce leaves

Directions

GARNISH

Bosley John <bosley_john@...>

I'm posting here five recipes for seviche/ceviche as published in the Food section of Wednesday's Washington _Post_. The article included all the standard warnings about parasites, etc. but we've been over all that already, and the article didn't have anything new to add to our prior discussion so I'll skip all that and post just the recipes. Also you will note that the chile content of these recipes is minimal or even noted as "optional"!!??? (The _Post_ also spells the word for the fruit "chili;" it's getting so the concept of "literate journalist" is almost a contradiction in terms...) Well, I reckon all of us know what needs to be added in each case--or we can do some trial and error adjusting. See recipes "SAIGONNAIS SCALLOP SEVICHE", "OLD ANGLER'S INN SANTA FE SHRIMP SEVICHE", "ROOF TERRACE RESTAURANT CARIBBEAN SEAFOOD ESCABECHE", "MUSSEL SEVICHE", and "LOBSTER SEVICHE".

SAIGONNAIS SCALLOP SEVICHE: This recipe is attributed to Chef-owner Tin Quan of the Saigonnais restaurant in Washington's Adams-Morgan multi-ethnic enclave. (A friend of mine with mild dyslexia used to call it "Madams-Organ" ;-)) 6 to 8 servings.

Place scallops in a non-corrosive bowl and marinate in lemon juice for ½ hour. Drain scallops in a strainer over a bowl in the refrigerator for 2 hrs. Dry completely with paper towels.

Heat oil in a non-stick skillet, add shallots and saute' until browned.

Blend fish sauce with sugar until sugar completely dissolves. Pour over scallops and add rau ram, basil, ginger, peanuts, chili paste and fried shallots. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Heat oil in a saucepan, add prawn crackers, one or two at a time, and fry until puffed, about 10 sec. Line a serving dish with lettuce leaves and pour scallops over the top. Arrange fried prawn crackers around edges.

CHILE-HEADS ARCHIVES

From the Chile-Heads recipe list. Downloaded from Glen's MM Recipe Archive, .