Dinner: Seared Scallops With Mint, Peas, and Bacon

Recipe by Rhoda Boone Buttery scallops and smoky bacon are balanced by sweet peas and lively mint in this company-worthy dish. All you need is one pan, a handful of ingredients, and 22 minutes to pull it off.

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Seared Scallops With Mint, Peas, and Bacon

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

12 large sea scallops (preferably dry-packed), side muscle removed (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups shelled fresh peas (from about 1 1/2 pounds pods) or frozen peas
3 ounces bacon (about 3 slices), cut crosswise into 1/3 –inch strips
1 medium shallot, cut crosswise into thin rings
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon (or more) olive oil
3 tablespoons mint leaves, coarsely chopped, divided

Instructions

Place scallops on a paper towel-lined plate and pat very dry with additional paper towels. Season both sides with 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper total.
Bring 1 cup water to a boil, covered, in a small pot. Add peas and 1/2 tsp. salt; cook until peas are bright green and tender, about 2 minutes for fresh and 4 minutes for frozen. Drain peas through a strainer set over a bowl; reserve cooking liquid.
Meanwhile, add bacon to a large skillet and heat over medium-high. Cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until fat starts to render, about 3 minutes. Add shallot and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly browned and bacon is crisp, about 3 minutes more. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon and shallot to a small bowl, reserving fat in skillet. Add 1/2 cup cooked peas to bacon mixture.
Purée lemon juice, 1/8 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper, the remaining 1 1/2 cups peas, and 1/2 cup reserved pea cooking liquid in a blender. Add oil and pureé until smooth. Add 2 Tbsp. mint leaves and pureé until just combined but pieces of mint are still visible. Divide pea purée among 4 plates.
Heat skillet with reserved fat over high until just barely smoking. Working in batches and adding more oil if necessary, sear scallops until a golden brown crust has formed and scallop releases from skillet, about 3 minutes per side. Top pea purée with scallops and bacon-pea mixture, then sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. mint.