Monday, August 24, 2009

Scallops alla Caprese ~



Since I have an abundance of beautiful red tomatoes in my garden right now, I decided to prepare grilled sea scallops with caprese-style tomatoes.

I also grilled some lovely red potatoes :)st! They were wonderful!

The pure white scallops soon became...

beautifully charred on the grill...

...and were tossed with tomatoes, basil and grilled onions for a wonderful, low-calorie dish.

Scallops alla Caprese
Recipe adapted from Mario Batali's Italian Grill
Printable Recipe

Serves 6 (I halved the recipe for my husband and myself)

2 pounds tomatoes, fresh from the garden or Farmers' Market would be ideal
24 fresh basil leaves
3 medium red onions, cut into 1 inch slices
Kosher salt and black pepper, freshly ground
5-6 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
About 2 pounds of sea scallops
Fleur de Sel or Sea Salt
1 lemon, halved

Preheat the grill. Place a flat griddle or grill pan (Mario uses a granite 'piastra') on the grill to preheat.

Slice the tomatoes attractively, leaving the very small ones whole or halved and arrange them on a platter. Tear the basil leaves into strips and sprinkle over the tomatoes. Set aside.

Season the onion slices with salt and pepper and place them on the hot, dry griddle and cook without moving for 7 to 10 minutes or well charred on the first side. Using tongs, carefully turn the slices over and cook for 7 to 10 minutes on the other side. Transfer to a plate and let cool slightly, then separate the onion slices into rings and scatter them over the tomatoes and basil. Drizzle the platter with 3-4 tablespoons of the olive oil.

While the onions cook, carve a checkerboard pattern about 1/4 inch deep into one side of each scallop. place the scallops in a bowl and season on both sides with salt and pepper, then toss with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and gentle stir to coat them.

Place the scallops on the dry, clean griddle, design side down, and cook for 5-7 minutes, without moving, until almost cooked. They should be opaque almost throughout. Flip them over and sear for about 30 seconds and remove from the grill. Arrange them over the tomato and onion salad.

Squeeze the juice from the lemon halves over the scallops and tomatoes, sprinkle with Fleur de Sel, and serve.

35 comments:

  1. I love the red and everything looks so yummy....

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  2. What beautiful table. I love those little red dishes -- they're a perfect dish!

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  3. Your red and white table could not possibly be more perfect. I just flat love everything here. You did an outstanding job..even making your delicious meal red and white. You go, girl..\
    Just beautiful and red is my favorite color in the whole wide world.
    xo bj

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  4. It looks wonderful, Susan! The dishes are beautiful, and the food looks amazing!
    Thanks for coming to the party..I do appreciate it!
    Mr. Linky is not co operating..NO SOUP for him!

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  5. Susan, I must let know whenever I see red dishes and accessories I stop in my tracks and think of you. :)

    Stunning photography as always, and thank you for sharing the recipe, you always find the best ones ~ this is no exception; it looks wonderful!

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  6. Beautiful red and white tablescape. It looks very romantic. I love your chairs too....Christine

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  7. What a delightful tablescape. I love the red and white. The scallops are so tempting! Haven't had them in a long time....yummy.

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  8. This is a fabulous 'scape! Your red and white together is so striking and what beautiful dishes you have for it. The flowers and candlelight make for a romantic setting and those scallops look delicious! Great pics of everything!

    DD

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  9. The white and red are so lively. I think your table setting is perfect!

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  10. Oh wow, thiis is simply and awesome post!! The able settings are breathtaking and the meal....well, I am speechless!!

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  11. I just am so in love with the red and white! Love your gorgeous table and the food looks fantastic! I followed over from Kathleens party, so glad I did too. Cindy

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  12. I've always loved your Reds and Whites~ I spy new..the butterflies?

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  13. My grandmother had a red and white kitchen and in my last house mine was too! -- I love the red and white combination you've shared - beautiful and bright and cheerful!

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  14. Red is my favorite color, so I love, love, love your tablescape! The food looks really yummy too.

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  15. Susan, I LOVE your reds...I never knew how much white could make them the center of attention like that before. Those red cabbage plates have always been my favorite but your white dishes are very beautiful and elegant as well. What a cute little red butterfly cup and your napkins and rooster towel....I could go on and on. Love it all :)

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  16. Susan, a gorgeous post, it's totally eye-candy.

    The recipe for scallops Caprese style sounds very doable, delicious, and great summer dish.

    I LOVE the picture of the tomatoes in the rectangular bowl and your simple but gorgeous custard and raspberries.

    FANTASTIC !!! (And I always look forward to your Ode to Tuber posts.)

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  17. Beautiful table & beautiful food. You make me glad I didn't post any food pictures...I don't have half your talent!

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  18. Hello Susan...

    This is my very first time to your blog...so very nice to meet you!!!

    Ohhh my...well you stole my heart with all that fabulous red, my friend...it's my favorite color!!! And I have to tell you...that photo of the ice cream with the sweet little red raspberries in that darling red handled bowl...well, it's breathtaking!!! I think I need me some of that! Hehe!

    I really enjoyed your beautifully set red and white table...love, love, LOVE your red scalloped rim plates...just beautiful!!! Your fresh red flowers that you used for the centerpiece...fabulous!!! Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful table with us today...I love it!!! GO RED!!!

    Warmest wishes,
    Chari

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  19. Ooops...just lil' ol' me again! Can't leave without saying how scrumptious your grilled scallops look! Mmmm...all the food looks "out of this world" yummy!!!

    Chari

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  20. Your red and white tablescape is stunning. I love the combination. Your white dishes are also just lovely. What a wonderful tablescape and the menu was so pretty with all the same red and white. It looks just yummy. Thanks for the recipe. Hugs, Marty

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  21. Oh how fabulous your red and white is! You really do have some great pieces. Your making my mouth water with all the delicious looking food you made, too! Loveliness is happening here :0)

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  22. Susan, no one does Red like you. Or White, or any other color, for that matter.
    Delicious-looking dinner and lovely presentation!

    I'll have to check Kathleen's Let There Be White - II.
    I think I've confused this event with 'White Wednesdays.'
    Or, maybe senility is setting in, and the latter only exists in my brain.

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  23. wow. beautiful and so simple & light!

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  24. Your red and white tablesetting is so stunning! A feast for the eyes as well as the tummy! There's nothing better!

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  25. Gorgeous, Susan, it's all gorgeous red and whites! Even the tomatoes from your garden are perfect :) Great post!

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  26. Susan, I had a feeling that you would be pairing red with white :-)Stunning tablesetting! Everything looks lovely! Perfection :-)

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  27. How fun! I love all of the red!!! Everything looks so bright and cheerful.

    I've had a great time getting to know Kathleen and had a wonderful time shopping!!!
    - The Tablescaper

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  28. Susan,
    This is my first time to your blog, and I loved it. I will be following you. Your tablescape was just beautiful, here I go I love RED, and I mean RED anything.
    Sandy

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  29. great post. The red and white is fresh and crisp. those are great dishes from your wedding bliss days. I think lots of companies are copying that look. I hope you find some out there somewhere.

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  30. Susan, perfection! Always, you do the best. The scallop dish sounds so good.

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  31. Wow is all I can say. Those are some absolutely stunning photos! Your tableware is beautiful!

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  32. Love the red! everything is so pretty!

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  33. Your red and white is so striking and turned out beautifully!
    The tomatoes were the perfect accent..and where in the world do you get such great looking scallops???
    It's a tough decision between the red cabbage and the red lions head pieces...
    Gorgeous post!!

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  34. Thank you all for your kind (and humorous) comments ;)

    Barb, the scallops came from our locally owned, high-end grocer. They were even on sale!

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  35. Oh my goodness what a gorgeous post! You have made me fall in love with red in the kitchen over the past couple of years. I need to go see all of the other beautiful tablesettings I missed for Kathleens event. Family was here..I didnt' get to blog around seeing them all.

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