Orange-Ginger Scallops

Orange-Ginger Scallops

This is a recipe that wasn’t on my list of favorites, but I think I might like it better had I used lime or lemon instead of the orange for the flavoring.

Ingredients:

1 lb sea scallops

¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1 Tbsp grated ginger

3 Tbls julienned ginger

1½ Tbsp rice wine vinegar

4 sections orange peel, each julienned without pith

1 Tbsp olive or avocado oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 small leeks, white and light green only cut into 3 inch matchsticks

6 medium carrots julienned three inches long

1¼ cup chicken or vegetable stock

2 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine scallops, orange juice, grated ginger, and vinegar, and set aside. Bring a small saucepan of water to boil. Add orange peel and blanch for two minutes. Remove from heat. Set aside.

Set a large cast iron pan over very high heat until very hot. Add oil; swirl to cover the bottom. Remove scallops from marinate with a slotted spoon. Reserve the marinade.

Cook scallops for two minutes. Add julienned ginger and garlic; cook about two more minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Add leeks, carrots and orange peel to pan and salt. You may need to add a little more oil here. Cook one minute. Add stock and marinate; cover. Lower to medium heat. Cook about 10 minutes or until carrots are cooked. Remove lid and reduce liquid to half. Return scallops. Cook one minute or until most of the liquid is gone.

Place over cooked rice and garnish with cilantro.

— Barbara Rexford