Seared scallops with cucumber-pepper relish

4 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1poundsScallops
1Salt
1Pepper, white
2tablespoonsOlive oil
*RELISH*
1Lemon grass stalk
½cupRice vinegar
¼cupSugar
½teaspoonRed pepper flakes
2Cucumber, med
1Banana pepper; devein/minced
1Serrano, red; deveined/mince
2teaspoonsCilantro; minced
2teaspoonsBasil, fresh; minced
2teaspoonsMint, fresh; minced
cupLime juice
1Salt
1Pepper, white

Directions

Servings: 4

Slice lemon grass stalk thinly crosswise. Peel and halve cucumbers lengthwise, then seed and slice thin crosswise.

Relish: Bring lemon grass, vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes and ½ cup water to boil in a saucepan; simmer until reduced to ½ cup.

Strain mixture into a bowl and cool slightly; discard solids. Stir in all other sauce ingredients. Sprinkle scallops with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon white pepper. Heat one tablespoon oil in a wok or non-stick skillet.

Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, and adding remaining oil as needed, saute scallops, turning once, until seared.

Spoon a portion of relish onto each plate. Arrange a portion of scallops over the relish and serve immediately.

~-- COOK's Magazine