Chop 15g of basil leaves and put them in a mortar. Add a pinch of sea salt and 50g of softened butter. Mash along with the pestle till you’ve gotten a inexperienced, creamy herb butter, then season with a couple of drops of lime juice. Put aside in a cool place.
Warmth a griddle pan, then place 12 medium-sized scallops on the new pan and go away, with out shifting them, for two minutes or till the underside of every is golden in color. Utilizing a palette knife, flip the scallops over and let the opposite facet cook dinner.
Switch the scallops to 2 heat plates, then add the basil butter to the pan and let it soften and sizzle. As quickly because the butter has melted, pour it over the scallops, add a couple of free basil leaves and a final squeeze of lime. Serves 2
This is among the quickest of summer season suppers, cooked in minutes, however you’ll in all probability want an accompaniment. My favorite is a plate of sauté potatoes. They have to be began a superb quarter-hour earlier than you start the scallops. Peel 1 giant potato per individual. Slice into rounds roughly as thick as £1 coin, then fry in olive oil and a little bit butter till golden. Take away from the pan as every turns into prepared and drain on kitchen paper, then salt calmly.
If you happen to desire, you may cook dinner the scallops in a frying pan. Get the pan actually sizzling earlier than including the scallops. (If you happen to cook dinner them at too low a temperature, or in a pan whose sides are too excessive, they are going to steam quite than fry and the end result won’t be something like nearly as good.)
A pleasant different is to make a tarragon butter, utilizing the leaves from 20g of tarragon stems and a drop or two of lemon juice, quite than lime.
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