Week 3 Recipes


Sautéed Scallops with Garlic Snow Peas Recipe

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. Scallops (smaller bay scallops are ok too)
½ lb. snow peas
½ cup white wine
3 tbs. nam pla (Thai fish sauce) Substitute soy sauce if you cannot find it.
3 garlic cloves chopped
2 tbs. fresh ginger, chopped
4 tbs. butter
1 tbs. lime juice
freshly ground pepper

INSTRUCTIONS
Start some rice cooking, so it will be done when the scallops are done. If you’re using large (sea) scallops, slice them into strips about ¼ inch thick. If you’re using small (bay) scallops, don’t bother slicing them. Rinse and drain the snow peas and remove the strings. Cut the pods into 1-inch lengths. Heat a small saucepan or skillet, then put in a little butter. Add the ginger and sauté for 30 seconds, then add the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.

Add the wine and fish sauce, and reduce the mixture by half, stirring often. Keep this hot during the next few steps, but stir it so that it doesn’t burn.

Heat a skillet large enough to hold the scallops in one layer, and melt the rest of the butter. Over moderately high heat, add the scallops and pepper to taste. Add the snow peas and stir-fry until the peas have change color and the scallops have turned opaque, about 2 minutes. Don’t overcook the scallops, just cook them until they’ve lost their translucent look. Add the sauce and lime juice to the skillet and stir everything for a few seconds, until well-mixed.

Poached Garlic Soup
After the garlic has been cooked slowly for a certain length of time, it loses its harsh rawness and becomes delicate and refined.

30 cloves garlic, peeled
7 cups vegetable or chicken broth, divided Toasted Garlic-Butter Bread (see recipe below)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
8 small new potatoes, peeled, diced and reserved in cold water
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
Coarse salt and freshly-cracked pepper to taste
Freshly grated parmesan cheese

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine garlic cloves and 3 cups of vegetable or chicken broth; bring to a boil and poach 15 minutes or until soft. Remove garlic cloves to a small bowl and mash with a fork; set aside for use in make Toasted Garlic-Butter Bread. Cook and reduce chicken broth to a glaze; remove from heat and set aside.

Prepare Toasted Garlic-Butter Bread; cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve.
In a large soup pot over low heat, melt butter. Add onion and sauté until soft. Drain the water from the potatoes; stir the potatoes into the butter and onion mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Add remaining 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth. Increase heat to medium-high; simmer, uncovered, 25 minutes or until the potatoes are softened. Remove from heat and let cool 10 to 15 minutes.
In a food processor or blender, puree soup; return to soup pot. Add garlic glaze; stir until well blended.

NOTE: The soup can be made 1 to 2 days in advance up until this stage. Refrigerate until ready to finish.
Stir in heavy cream, milk, salt, and pepper; cook, over low heat, another 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Serve in soup bowls and garnish with parmesan cheese. Serve with Toasted Garlic-Butter Bread.

Makes 6 servings.

Toasted Garlic-Butter Bread 6 slices Sourdough French Bread, thinly sliced and lightly toasted 6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
Poached garlic cloves
Preheat broiler. In a small bowl, combine butter and mashed garlic cloves; mash until well blended. Spread garlic mixture evenly over the top of the bread slices. When ready to serve, broil bread for a few seconds or until top is lightly browned and bubbly.

NOTE: Bread can be assembled earlier in the day and placed on a pan. Cover well with plastic wrap.

Bok Choy Salad

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 bunches baby bok choy, cleaned and sliced
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/8 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1/2 (6 ounce) package chow mein noodles

Directions
In a glass jar with a lid, mix together olive oil, white vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. Close the lid, and shake until well mixed.

Combine the bok choy, green onions, almonds, and chow mein noodles in a salad bowl. Toss with dressing, and serve.