Bay Scallops with Basil Sauce and Roasted Butternut
Bay Scallop season opens this coming week on Martha's Vineyard. This is one of my favorite recipes, adapted from local chef Joe DaSilva. Looking for other dinner cooking ideas for this local ingredient? Check out my article in the MV Times.
Ingredients
1 pound fresh bay scallops, muscle removed, rinsed and dried
1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 bunch (or 2.5 oz. container) of fresh basil leaves, rinsed (about 1 cup)
Olive oil
Squeeze of lemon
Salt and Pepper
- Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and cook squash for about 20 minutes
until tender. Drain water. Mash squash with a potato masher. Add
butter, salt and pepper to taste.2. While butternut squash is cooking, make the basil sauce and prep the
scallops. Remove the small muscle on the side of the scallops, rinse well and dry.
- To make the sauce, bring a small pot of water to boil. Add the basil leaves and boil for 30 seconds (this keeps the sauce bright green). Drain and pat dry with a paper towel. Add blanched basil to a blender with 1/2 cup olive oil, enough to blend easily. Blend until thoroughly mixed, about 1 minute. Strain in a fine-meshed strainer. Season with a pinch of salt.
4. To cook scallops, heat one or two sauté pans over medium high heat. Add
butter and olive oil to coat. Sear scallops on one side, about 1-2 minutes. Turn
and sear the other side, 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and a few drops of lemon juice.5. Arrange the butternut squash on a large platter. Place the scallops
around. Add a squeeze of lemon to the basil sauce and drizzle or spoon around, not on, the scallops.