Coquilles Sant Jacques

Laura Calder / French Food Made Easy

Yield: 6 servings

    SCALLOPS:
    1 tablespoon butter
    1 tablespoon olive oil
    1 pound/450 g scallops
    Salt and freshly ground black pepper

    DUXELLES:
    2 tablespoons butter
    8 ounces/250 g mushrooms
    2 shallots, minced
    Salt and freshly ground black pepper
    1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley  

    SAUCE:
    2 tablespoons butter
    1 shallot, minced
    2 tablespoons flour
    1/2 cup125 ml white wine
    1/2 cup/125 ml fish stock
    2 tablespoons creme fraiche
    Lemon juice, to taste

    TOPPING:
    2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
    6 tablespoons fresh bread crumbs
    1 tablespoon butter, melted


Total Time: 45 min / Prep: 15 min / Cook: 30 min

Prepare the scallops: Heat the butter and oil in a large saute pan. Season the scallops with salt and pepper and sear 1 minute per side, to brown. Do not cook completely. Set aside.

To make the duxelles: Melt the butter in a large saute pan until foaming. Add the shallot and saute until soft. Add the mushrooms, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the mushrooms have released all their liquid and the pan is dry, about 10 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a bowl and stir through the parsley.

To make the sauce: Melt the butter in the saute pan until foaming. Add the shallot and cook until soft. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Whisk in the wine and boil down by half. Add the stock and cook, stirring, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat and stir in the creme fraiche. Check the seasonings, adding salt, pepper, and lemon juice, if needed.

To assemble the dish: Heat the oven to broil with the oven rack at the top. Lay 6 large scallop shells or individual gratin dishes on a baking sheet. Divide the mushroom mixture among the shells. Arrange six scallops on each, then spoon over the sauce. For the topping, scatter over the parsley and breadcrumbs, drizzle over the melted butter, and broil until golden and bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately.