Asian Style Shrimp and Scallop Medley

Asian Style Shrimp and Scallop Medley
2 -3 servings
Can be doubled| Can be halved

We just returned from two amazing weeks in Africa, and Tess surprised us with this welcome home meal. It’s a recipe she makes often for her and her husband, and she has been promising to make it for us one day.  Last week, that day finally came! It’s a snap to put together, and even though it’s free of any spices, it’s still flavor packed thanks to the generous amounts of ginger, garlic and green chili. The lemon takes out the fishy taste of the shellfish and also help give the sauce a tasty little gravy, and the butter adds a touch of indulgence. We ate ours over a bed of brown rice and a side of steamed baby bok choy. I’m already craving it again so it will likely be part of our menu in the next week.     ~Shivani

Ingredients:

1/2 pound scallops
1/2 pound extra-large shrimp, peeled (it’s okay to leave the tails on)
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon of minced ginger
1 tablespoon of butter
1 teaspoon of minced green chili (optional)
the juice of one lemon
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Melt the butter over medium heat in a non-stick pan

Add in garlic, scallions and ginger and saute until slightly brown (around 1 to 2 minutes)

Add in shrimp, scallops, salt, pepper, the juice of the lemon and chili pepper

Cook until done (maybe 5 to 6 minutes- take care not overcook the seafood)

Serving Suggestions:

This dish is great over brown or white rice or soba noodles. For a side dish, try an Asian style vegetable such as steamed bok choy, Chinese cabbage sauteed with a little canola oil and minced garlic or sliced shitake mushrooms sauteed in canola oil and garlic.

Vegetarian Substitutes:

Cubed extra-firm or firm tofu would also make for a tasty recipe. Freeze the tofu for 20 minutes before cutting for a slightly meatier texture.

Spicy Indian Scallop Curry

Spicy Indian Scallop Curry
Serves 2 to 3
Can be doubled| Can be halved| Freezes well (curry base only)

During our first year of marriage while Mahir was still in business school, and I quit my consulting job to move to Philadelphia to be with him, we spent hours making time consuming Indian curries. The recipes we used- a mix from Web sites and cookbooks- weren’t only  elaborate in their preparation but also in their calorie and fat content. The dishes called for 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup oil and copious amounts of either coconut milk or fresh coconut. I remember buying the whole fruit from the local Whole Foods, spreading newspapers on our kitchen floor, cracking the shell open and going through the laborious process of scraping the meat from the inside.

Though I loved how they tasted, I wasn’t thrilled at what the curries did to my figure, and I begged him to come up with a tablespoon of oil worthy version. The following recipe is what he turned out. It satisfies not only my picky palate but is also a winner with everyone from my old-fashioned Indian grandparents to non-Indians who like Indian food. They think they’re eating some decadent Indian curry, and are always surprised when we tell them an entire generous batch uses less than one tablespoon of oil. We usually make a triple batch without the seafood and freeze what we aren’t using so whenever that Indian food craving strikes, we defrost the curry, warm it in a shallow pan with some water, add some seafood and are ready to tuck in within minutes .    ~Shivani

Ingredients:

1 pound of fresh scallops
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, finely minced
1 14.5 ounce can of unsalted diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala (a pungent spice mixture sold at specialty food stores and available online at (www.kalustyans.com)
1/8 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon red chili powder (optional)
2 teaspoons of oil
1 handful of chopped cilantro
Salt, to taste

Instructions:

Heat the oil on medium heat in a large non-stick pan.

Add onions, mix with oil and set heat to medium-low. This lets the onions cook without burning.

After 5 to 6 minutes or when onions are soft, set heat to medium and let onions slightly brown.

Add in ginger and garlic and fry for one minute, stirring frequently.

Add coriander powder and fry for 30 seconds, stirring frequently.

Add the remaining spices and mix well.

Add one cup of water.

When water is almost evaporated, add in tomatoes, salt, mix well and cook for 10 minutes, covered

Add in scallops and cook until done.

If too much of the water has evaporated, and you want a more soup like curry, add 1/4 cup at a time until you get your desired consistency.

Top with cilantro.

Serving Suggestions:

Brown or white rice absorbs up the flavorful curry juice beautifully. Onion slivers squeezed with lime juice adds a nice crunch. Spicy cauliflower, steamed spinach or a salad with your favorite lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers and a lemon and olive oil dressing are great vegetable sides.

Substitutes:

Scallops are only type of seafood you can use in this curry. Any mild fish including shrimp, tilapia fillets and halibut make for an equally tasty end result!