Scallops always feel like a special treat, even when they are cooked in the simplest ways. When you add bacon to them, they start to feel pretty fancy. This dish has that feel, but you only need one pan and a very simple method to make it.
By searing the scallops on one side and then adding them back to the pan at the end to finish cooking, the shellfish will stay tender and keep the slightly crisp exterior from searing. It's a beautiful dish to have for dinner when you have guests over, and it's also fun to have on a regular Saturday night to make it feel more special.
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1/2 Kilo JRA Bantayan Scallop Meat thawed, side muscle removed, and patted dry
- 1 medium shallot peeled and sliced
- 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans drained
- ½ cup white wine
- 1 tablespoon Sherry vinegar
- 4 cups baby spinach
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Line a plate with paper towels and place the bacon in a large (cold) skillet. Turn the heat to medium-low.
- Slowly render the fat off of the bacon and when it’s slightly crisp, remove to the lined plate and cool.
- Drain off (and reserve) all but one tablespoon of the bacon fat. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the scallops in a single layer. Sprinkle the tops with salt.
- Sear on one side for about 3 minutes, until the scallops develop a nice deep golden crust on the side in contact with the skillet. Remove to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium and add the shallot. Cook, stirring to coat in the oil for a minute. Add the wine and the vinegar, and deglaze the pan by stirring and scraping as the wine bubbles.
- When the liquid is reduced by half, add the beans and simmer until warmed through. Taste and add salt as needed.
- Add the spinach and cook, stirring, until fully wilted. Add half of the bacon and stir to combine with the beans. Simmer for 5 to 8 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Nestle the scallops, seared side up, into the spinach and bean mix and cook without stirring for 2 more minutes, until the scallops have warmed through. Top with a few twists of freshly ground black pepper and the remaining bacon. Serve hot.