Seared Sea Scallops with Wild Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Duck Demi-Glace

Seared Sea Scallops

with Wild Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Duck Demi-Glace

Serves: 2

Preparation time: 1 hour

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 16 size U15 sea scallops
• 10 to 20 wild garlic leaves
• 3 large Yukon Gold potatoes (about 1 lb.)
• ¼ cup (60 ml) crème fraîche
• 8 Tbsp (115 g) unsalted butter
• 1 Tbsp duck fat
• 1 Tbsp duck demi-glace
• 1 tsp sea salt
• ¼ cup vegetable stock
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Preparing the scallops

Soak the scallops in lightly salted water for 1 hour. Drain and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.

Mashed potatoes

Peel the potatoes and cook them whole in a pot of salted boiling water until tender. Drain, then pass through a food mill or fine sieve to obtain a very smooth purée.

Wild garlic butter

Rinse the wild garlic leaves thoroughly, dry them, remove the stems, and finely chiffonade. Melt 7 Tablespoons of butter in a bain-marie until softened, then incorporate the wild garlic. Mix until a uniform green butter is obtained. Off the heat, gradually fold the mashed potatoes into the wild garlic butter, mixing gently. Warm the crème fraîche without boiling, then incorporate it into the purée. Return to low heat and work the mixture until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning.

Demi-glace sauce

In a small saucepan, heat the demi-glace with two tablespoons of vegetable stock. Bring to a gentle simmer, then whisk in 1 tablespoon of butter until the sauce becomes glossy and slightly thickened. Keep warm.

Cooking the scallops

Heat a cast-iron pan over high heat with the duck fat. Sear the scallops quickly (about 1 minute per side) until nicely golden. Season with salt and pepper.

Plating

Spoon the purée into the center of the plate and create a small well. Pour the demi-glace into the well. Arrange the scallops harmoniously; 7 in a circle and 1 in the center. Serve immediately.

Wine pairing

Sparkling

• Sea Smoke Winery, Sea Spray, Pinot Noir Brut 2018, Santa Rita Hills, CA

White

• Black Sheep Finds Holus Bolus Roussanne 2022, Santa Barbara, CA
• Antiquum Farm, "Perpetua Album IV " Estate Pinot Gris NV ,Willamette Valley, OR

Red

• Audeant Wines Rose of Pinot Noir 2022, Willamette Valley, OR
• Lange Winery Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014, Willamette Valley, OR