Recipe15 minutes · serves 2 · Moderate

Seared Scallops with Brown Butter

Hokkaido scallops with a hard gold crust and a barely-warm centre. Two minutes a side and don't crowd the pan.

Buy the fish for this recipe

Ingredients

  • 450 g scallops, side muscle removed
  • 1 tbsp grapeseed or other high-smoke oil
  • 45 g butter
  • Lemon, flaky salt, chives

Method

  1. 01

    Blot the scallops dry on both sides and leave them uncovered on paper towel for 10 minutes. Wet scallops steam instead of searing.

  2. 02

    Season just before cooking. Heat the oil in a stainless or cast iron pan until it just begins to smoke.

  3. 03

    Lay the scallops down with space between them and do not touch them for 90 seconds to 2 minutes.

  4. 04

    Flip, add the butter, baste for 30–45 seconds, and pull them while the centre is still translucent.

  5. 05

    Finish with lemon, flaky salt and chives.

From the counter: U10s take about 30 seconds longer per side than 40/60s. Buy by count, cook by size.

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