Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/741600
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2016 37 THE soft fleshy texture and deli- cately mild, sweet flavour make scallops a hit, even among those who are not particularly fond of fish and other seafood. Scallops are molluscs that have two beautiful convexly ridged, or scalloped, shells. They consist of two shells hinged at one end, which is why they are known to marine biologists as bi-valve molluscs. The edible portion of the scal- lop is the white muscle that opens and closes the two shells and is called the nut. It has a soft, fleshy texture and a delicate fla- vour that may be mild or briny depending upon the variety. The coral, the reproductive glands, are also edible, although they are not widely consumed. Scallops come in two varie- ties, the smaller bay scallop that is widely available in the US and the larger sea scallop found abundantly throughout the Mediterranean. The trick to perfectly cooking scallops is not to overcook them as they become dry and tough. Scallops can be steamed, fried or grilled but should be cooked gently and only for a very short time or their delicate flavour and texture will be spoiled. Steam them in wine with aromatics as you would mussels, or wrap them in prosciutto and grill or fry for a few minutes. Scallops go well with Asian in- gredients: try pan-frying them in oil with ginger and fresh corian- der. They're also a good comple- ment to hearty flavours such as bacon, chorizo, black pudding or watercress. Take care not to over-cook them: serve as soon as they are firm and opaque. You'll need about four to five king scal- lops per person for a main meal or about a dozen queen scallops. Do not add salt before cooking as this draws out the moisture and toughens the scallop. Scallops have been used for culinary and decorative purpos- es, due to their beautiful shells, since time immemorial. The great scallop gained great pres- tige during the medieval era. Pilgrims visiting the shrine of St James in Spain began to use empty scallop shells for both eat- ing and begging. The scallop and its shell quickly became a symbol of this magnificent shrine with people using them to decorate their doorways as well as their coats of arms. In honor of the shrine, they were called the shell of St James, now best known by their translated French name of Coquille St Jacques. Scallops are a very good source of vitamin B12, protein, and phosphorus. In addition, scallops are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and po- tassium. Vitamin B12 has been known to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease includ- ing arrhythmia, high blood pres- sure and reducing the chances of heart attacks and strokes. The omega-3 fatty acids protect against Alzheimer's disease and age related cognitive decline. Fine food of the week Food Ingredients • ¼ cup olive oil • 8 tomatoes • 4 spring onions, chopped • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 2 small avocados • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice • 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced • 2-3 tbsp fresh corian- der, chopped • ½ a small green cab- bage, sliced • ½ a small red cabbage, sliced • ½ cup sour cream • 3 tbsp heavy cream • ½ tsp cumin • Salt • 500g scallops, rinsed and dried • 6-8 tortillas Method 1. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a medium sauté pan over me- dium heat. Sauté tomatoes, a third of the spring onion, and garlic for 5-10 minutes until softened. Remove from heat and chill. 2. Dice avocados and add lime juice, tossing to coat. 3. Add avocado along with jalapeño, remaining spring onion, and coriander to the tomato mixture. Stir to com- bine. 4. Place sliced cabbage in a me- dium mixing bowl. 5. Mix sour cream with heavy cream in a small bowl. 6. Drizzle cream over cabbage, tossing to coat. Add cumin and salt to taste. Mix well. 7. In a large sauté pan, heat re- maining olive oil over medi- um-high heat. Add the scal- lops and sear for 2 minutes, turning after 1 minute to sear the other sides. Remove from heat. 8. To assemble tacos, heat a tor- tilla in a dry pan (optional). 9. Place a few spoonfuls of slaw in the centre of a tortilla. Add a spoonful of salsa verde. 10. Add 6-10 scallops (depending on size) and another spoonful of salsa verde. 11. Sprinkle with remaining cilantro. Serve warm. Recipe of the week Scallops – Seafood with some meat Scallop tacos with salsa verde