How to Cook Coquilles Saint-Jacques

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 mins

Cooking time: 30 mins

Ingredients needed to make Coquilles Saint-Jacques:

• 1 ½ lb sea scallops
• 1/3 cup gruyere cheese, grated
• ¼ cup all purpose flour
• 3 tbsp bread crumbs
• 4 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 8 oz fresh mushrooms, rinsed and sliced
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp cognac
• 2/3 cup dry white wine
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp curry powder
• ¾ tsp salt

Cooking instructions for Coquilles Saint-Jacques:

• Place the flour in a large bowl and stir in a dash of salt, cayenne pepper as well as curry powder until well combined.
• Throw in the scallops and toss them together to coat well with the seasoned flour.
• Add a dollop of softened butter into a large frying pan and melt it over moderately high heat.
• Toss the dredged scallops into it and sauté them for about 4 minutes, flipping them once, until they brown nicely on either sides.
• Drain them out onto a plate and place a lid on top; keep warm.
• Dump the mushroom slices as well as the onions in the same pan and stir fry for about 4 minutes, stirring often, until they soften and brown slightly.
• Pour in a splash of white wine and give them a nice stir to mix well, while scratching out the browned bits from the base of the pan and stirring it into the sauce at the same time.
• Reduce it to a simmer over moderately low heat and continue to cook until it reduces to half of its original volume.
• Turn off the heat and whisk in the cognac until well combined.
• Return the scallops into the pan and stir it into the hot sauce.
• Warm up your broiler to high.
• Spoon the above mixture into 6 scallop shells and set aside.
• Place the grated cheese and breadcrumbs in a separate bowl and toss them together along with a lashing of melted butter.
• Sprinkle this mixture on top of each serving and place the shells within the broiler, spaced 5’’ apart.
• Broil until the scallop mixture gives out bubbles and the surface browns evenly.
• Finish it off with a splash of lemon juice on top of each serving and serve right away.

 Image credit: Wikimedia Commons