Seared Scallops with Wasabi-Ginger Butter

Name: Seared Scallops with Wasabi-Ginger Butter
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 5 wasabi leaves, plus a 2"-piece wasabi root, peeled and thinly sliced; 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened; 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice; 1 (1") piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 1 lb. sea scallops

Serves
serves 4

HELEN ROSNER

After discovering that fresh whole wasabi plants were available in the United States, Adrian J.S. Hale found all kinds of innovative uses for them, such as this butter-rich sauce in which the pungent heat of the wasabi root, or rhizome, is balanced by the delicate earthiness of the leaves for a mild heat and slight bitterness that accentuate the sweet flavor of plump pan-seared scallops. This recipe first appeared in the tablet edition of our June/July 2014 issue with Hale's story "Mean Green."

Ingredients

5 wasabi leaves, plus a 2"-piece wasabi root, peeled and thinly sliced
6 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 (1") piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 lb. sea scallops

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Instructions

Step 1

Bring a 4-qt. saucepan of water to a boil; cook wasabi leaves until tender, 3-4 minutes. Transfer leaves to a bowl of ice water until cool; drain and squeeze dry. Roughly chop leaves and transfer to a food processor. Add sliced wasabi, 5 tbsp. butter, the lemon juice, ginger, and salt; purée until smooth and set wasabi-ginger butter aside.

Step 2

Melt remaining butter in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Pat scallops dry and season with salt and pepper; cook until golden, 3–4 minutes. Flip scallops and add wasabi-ginger butter; cook scallops, basting constantly with butter, until cooked through, 3–4 minutes more. Divide scallops between 4 plates; spoon sauce over the top.

Bring a 4-qt. saucepan of water to a boil; cook wasabi leaves until tender, 3-4 minutes. Transfer leaves to a bowl of ice water until cool; drain and squeeze dry. Roughly chop leaves and transfer to a food processor. Add sliced wasabi, 5 tbsp. butter, the lemon juice, ginger, and salt; purée until smooth and set wasabi-ginger butter aside.
Melt remaining butter in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Pat scallops dry and season with salt and pepper; cook until golden, 3–4 minutes. Flip scallops and add wasabi-ginger butter; cook scallops, basting constantly with butter, until cooked through, 3–4 minutes more. Divide scallops between 4 plates; spoon sauce over the top.