Scallops on lukewarm caramelized orange vinaigrette - I love cooking! 💓

Scallops on lukewarm caramelized orange vinaigrette - I love cooking! 💓

This is a perfect starter when guests come for dinner or accompanied by some fresh baguette a light, late meal in summer. The vinaigrette is perfect to prepare in the morning or even a day before. So you just have to fry the scallops when the guest arrived.

Here's what you need!

For the vinaigrette

·        6 to 7 oranges (depends on size)

·        2 to 3 shallots

·        1 onion

·        orange zest

·        3/4 twigs fresh thyme

·        2 to 3 TS honey

·        chili to taste

·        a dash of orange vinegar

·        cracked black pepper to taste

·        olive oil

·        2 TS butter

·        salt to taste   

For the scallops

·        scallops (as many as you like…I use 3 big ones as a starter and 5 for meal)

·        butter

·        olive oil

·        garlic

·        fresh thyme

·        salt/pepper

Here's what you do!

Peel the onion and cut it into thick rings, cut the shallots (peeled) in half and chop the chili (I use half a chili)

Fry everything with a little bit of olive oil in a saucepan, add the orange zest and caramelize all of it with honey until you have all your ingredients covered with a golden brown layer.

Then deglaze it with the juice of your oranges and add thyme, vinegar, black pepper and salt

Reduce the vinaigrette on middle to low temperature until half of the liquid is gone

Remove the onions and herbs, your vinaigrette should now have a dark golden color

Now you add the butter and stir the vinaigrette until you have a nice and smooth consistence

Let the vinaigrette cool down until its lukewarm

While your vinaigrette is cooling down, add butter, garlic and thyme to a pan and fry the salted and peppered scallops for one minute (depends on the size) on each side while pouring the garlic/thyme butter of the scallops.

Put some vinaigrette on a big plate, set the scallops on top and decorate with a little bit of fresh thyme and serve right away! Good luck and enjoy!