pat's Recipe

Scallop Piccata on Angel Hair

Category: PASTA

1 pound dry sea scallops, tough muscle removed (see Ingredient note)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces whole-wheat angel hair pasta
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup clam juice
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 cup chopped garlic
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and chopped
2 teaspoons butter
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley


Preparation:
1 Put a large pot of water on to boil.
2 Sprinkle scallops on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and add the scallops; cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
3 Cook pasta in the boiling water until not quite tender, about 4 minutes. Drain and rinse.
4 Whisk wine, clam juice and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth.
5 Cook garlic in the pan over medium-high heat, stirring often, until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the wine mixture; bring to a boil and cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, capers and butter; cook until the butter melts, 1 to 2 minutes.
6 Return the scallops to the pan, add the pasta and cook, stirring gently, until heated through and coated with the sauce, about 1 minute. Stir in parsley and serve immediately.

Serves 6.

Tips:
Ingredient Note: We prefer cooking with "dry" sea scallops (not treated with sodium tripolyphosphate, or STP). Scallops that have been treated with STP ("wet" scallops) have been subjected to a chemical bath and are not only mushy and less flavorful, but will not brown properly.