Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Scallops with Jalapeno-Herb Pesto




I don't have a crush on Bobby Flay* (he looks a little too much like Howdy Doody for my taste), but I do have a serious crush on his food. Spicy? Check. Fresh? Check. Inventive? Check.

And, if I'm making a recipe out of his cookbook Grilling for Life, I can add Healthy to the laundry list of things I love.

The original recipe called for an avocado vinaigrette to accompany the scallops, and I did go ahead and make it (it's the pale green pool that's the bed for the scallops), and the dish was wonderful. Still, I don't really think you need the avocado vinaigrette. What knocked me out were the tender scallops and the flavorful pesto. What an explosion of texture and flavor!

Spice Fearers: feel free to tinker with the ratio of jalapenos in the pesto. We used the recommended amount and enjoyed the kick, but you'll still get plenty of flavor out of this if you use, say, two chiles. Grilling them mellows their heat, so don't be scared!

Grilled Sea Scallops with Avocado Vinaigrette and Jalapeno Pesto
serves 6
from Bobby Flay's Grilling for Life

For Jalapeno Pesto:

1 1/2 cups fresh cilantro leaves
6 jalapeno chiles, grilled, peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon pine nuts
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

Combine the cilantro, jalapenos, garlic, pine nuts, salt and pepper in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. With the motor running, drizzle in the oil and process until emulsified. Scrape the mixture into a bowl and set aside. The pesto can be made up to 2 days in advance, covered, and kept refrigerated.

For Avocado Vinaigrette:

1 ripe avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons chopped red onion
2 teaspoons honey
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup canola oil

Combine the avocado, lime juice, water, onion, honey, cumin, salt and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the oil and blend until emulsified. If the mixture is too thick and does not pour easily, add additional water to thin it to a pourable consistency.

For Sea Scallops:

24 large sea scallops
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Heat your grill to high. Brush the scallops on both sides with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the scallops until crusty, golden brown, and just cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side.

Serve 4 scallops per person on each plate. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the avocado vinaigrette over the scallops and top each scallop with a teaspoon of jalapeno pesto.

*Feel free to confess your love for the Flay--or any Food Network crush--in the comments section! I always find it fascinating which star floats the most boats!

43 comments:

  1. Oh, jalapenos! I need a suitcase of that spicy goodness right now. Do scallops and jalapeno-herb pesto airmail, Kitch?? =>

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  2. I don't watch the Food Network. I know. Gasp! LOL Why should I when I can just read your blog?

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  3. Oh my, this looks great! I think I love everything about this dish, beautiful and spicy and the scallops look wonderful.

    As for food network crushes... Cat Cora.

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  4. I saw spicy, avocado, scallops, pesto....Anyway - I had to visit... Yum. Thanks for the post. Do people have crushes on Bobby Flay? I always think he seems nice but rather intense, and... knowing me, I would fight with him or something. Do LOVE his recipes, though....

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  5. Bobby Flay totally looks like Howdy Doody. I've been trying to place it but could never put my finger on it!

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  6. okay so now you made me google howdy doody. OMG how uncanny. I always thought he was kinnda cute - NOw look what you've done lol

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  7. "what an explosion of texture"

    It looks like Kermit the Frog's eyes exploded. Or a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's eyes exploded and blew the bandana off.

    jc

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  8. Okay, this post has me thinking VERY SERIOUSLY about breaking my stance as the last mom in America who refuses to buy a food processor. My Idiot In the Kitchen idea: can't I just blend everyting into a puree in my blender? Now I can see I'm wrong. Yum.

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  9. Scallops, oh scallops, I could do with some now, and maybe a beer, and with avocado too. And maybe some chips.

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  10. Oooh, I love the pesto! I bet it would be awesome on burgers as well as scallops. I must confess a small crush on Dave Lieberman- he's adorable, and a big swooning crush on Jamie Oliver. I love what Jamie stands for, what he does, and his passionate approach to life.

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  11. That looks gorgeous -- and I agree with Phoo-D that this sounds like a combination that would be great on a host of things other than scallops (except that scallops are so great, why bother?).

    (Bobby Flay is cute, but he's no Alton Brown!)

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  12. My husband and I have very different tastes in food. I know he would love this and I would not. One of these days I will venture over to the dark side and make something like this.

    PS: My family wants to know what I've been "watching" because I've cooked for them for 10 days now. And surprisingly, they have loved everything. I have them working on your thank you cards now. :)

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  13. Kitch, I think The Mistah and I could get into this dish...after my wimpy self dials back the jalapeno that is.

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  14. That sounds delish...do you just plop those bad boys on the grill or are there fancy tools you use? I might have to con the hubs into grilling these this week.

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  15. I love scallops. These with a spicy kick sound awesome! And it's pretty.

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  16. OMG it looks gorgeous too! It sounds so tasty! Yum! Funny about Howdy Doody! Come to think of it he does look like him. Who has a crush on Bobby Flay? He does add some zip to his food though.

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  17. Since Bobby Flay dropped the "culinary bad boy" act not so long ago, I don't mind him nearly as much as I used to--but the husband still does a really good Bobby Flay impression.

    These look really good--but don't lose the avocado! Avocados are really good for you and make your hair shiny, amongst other things. :-)

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  18. You are so funny! Howdy Doody. You aren't old enough to ever have seen that show!

    I think Bobby is cute, but really have never cared much for redheaded men. He gets all red when he's outside in the heat...I often feel sorry for him. Sure can't wear a hat on TV.

    Scallops are a favorite around here...would love them with the kick!

    My fave Food Network chef is Ina Garten.

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  19. My hubby makes great scallops! But now I think they need a little bit of pesto.

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  20. I have a crush on the guy who used to stop people in grocery stores and make them dinner. On his show, I mean. Not some random guy.

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  21. Dude, FOOD PORN again? Scallops are in theory easy to cook yet much easier to ruin. These look Perfect-o. Ooooo.

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  22. Ink--that's Curtis Stone! I love him! That show was every woman's fantasy--hot guy picks her up, buys her food and then cooks for her! HOT!

    Jessica--I actually prefer to use a really hot grill pan for scallops, rather than the actual grill. Just easier, I think. But you can plop them on a well-oiled grill, no problem.

    Lindy--I take my thank-you notes in Cheeto form. Because I'm classy that way.

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  23. The browning on those scallops ... this IS food porn. Kitch, there is no reason for me to be craving seafood right after breakfast. But I am :)

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  24. YUM - I am totally bookmarking this post. (And not just because it's cheaper than buying the cookbook. Because I trust your taste. Okay, FINE. And because it's cheaper, too.)

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  25. are you kidding me??? That sounds like the BEST pesto of all time. So glad you shared. Thanks KW!

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  26. I am a fan of Bobby Flay's cooking, if not his personality. I had a great meal at Mesa Grill in NYC...hmm, perhaps a dinner date at BlogHer?

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  27. Howdy Doody! Ha! You called that right!

    I'm a Top Chef Masters woman. I think some of those sexy chefs are yummy.

    Don't you just want to find out what's under a man's... apron?

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  28. Yum I love scallops. I will share this one with the sportsman and have him make it for me for Mothers Day. THanks.

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  29. I'm not a big fan of his either, and because I don't have tv I miss his work on tv. But!!! this recipe sounds and looks amazing. And its also timely. I'm about to head off to Maui for the Summer and really want to just grill all day everyday while I'm there, but I have never really used the grill that much. I've been wanting a book to take with me so that i can cook my way through it. I'm going to check his out!

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  30. Love Alton Brown's style and approach to cooking, but not really attracted to him.

    I have a little crush on America's Test Kitchen. Not Chris Kimball, but Julia and Bridget - I watch them with devotion!

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  31. I've never had scallops...they scare me...I don't know how to cook them! Maybe I should give it a whirl...

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  32. There is not one thing wrong with this recipe...when I become the kitchen goddess that I am during summer vacation, this will be one of the first things I try...Why, oh why, do you live so far away...

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  33. Always looking for a new scallops recipe - and with a kick! Can't wait to give it a whirl!

    Bobby = Howdy Doody - totally didn't see it before, but will never beable to look at him the same again!

    Personally, I love Bobby too, and Alton, and Guy - the three of them could party in my kitchen any night!

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  34. I definitely love scallops! The topping looks fabulous!

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  35. Scallops! It's like candy for dinner! My favorite Food Network show lately is Chopped. In fact, my kids love it too and we "play" Chopped when I cook dinner. They are the judges and we have imaginary competitors and of course, Mom always wins!

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  36. While I love all things spicy - I too, have never thought of Bobby Flay as hot - not a fan of red hair and freckles!

    That being said - this recipe is going on my lunch menu next week!!!

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  37. Bobby Flay does know his way around the kitchen. I'm learning to like scallops. I think they are beginning to grow on me. the jalapeno pesto and avocado vinaigrette sound completely amazing! My husband will be off golfing after work so nothing nearly this exciting will be on my menu tonight. :0(

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  38. scallops? meh, i don't care for 'em. that pesto is great though. as for chef crushes? i love bobby flay's food, but i think i crush the hardest on danny boome or curtis stone. it's the accent, it gets me every time. :)

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  39. I really need to try this even if it means only half the family will eat it.

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  40. OMG! I have been away and am just catching up- this is a beautiful recipe TKW, I am now lovin' the Flay- YUM

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  41. I don't really love spicy, but this looks amazing!

    Yeah, first of all, the guy calls himself "Bobby," and I'm not comfortable having lewd sexual fantasies about a grown man touting a little boy's name. And he's too goofy looking while taking himself so seriously. Not a turn on.

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