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macadamia nut crusted scallops

Get:
  • 1lb scallops
  • 60g macadamia nuts, dry roasted and salted
  • 2 tbsp flour (to coat)
  • 1 egg
  • 4 tbsp butter (for sauce)
  • splash of cream
  • salt, pepper, garlic powder
Do:
  • Prepare the scallops
    • Mince the macadamia nuts and place in a bowl, for coating
    • Place the flour in a bowl, for coating
    • Beat 1 egg and place in a bowl, for coating
    • Rinse scallops and pat very dry
    • Season the scallops with salt, pepper, garlic powder
    • Dredge each scallop in flour to coat very lightly  // use fingers or tongs! chopsticks slice the meat
    • Dredge each scallop in the egg, then in the nuts, to coat thoroughly
    • Set aside or chill until ready
  • Prepare the brown butter sauce
    • Melt 4 tbsp brown butter in a small sauce pan on medium heat
    • Swirl to keep from burning until butter is golden brown but not dark brown
    • Transfer to a different pan to stop browning
    • Add splash of cream plus salt, and stir
    • Let cream bubble just a bit but not boil
    • Stir before serving
  • Cook scallops:
    • Heat a skillet with olive oil on medium heat  // consider using butter?
    • When oil is hot, place scallops in pan and fry 3 minutes
    • Turn scallops, fry 1 minute using tongs or spatula
    • Turn off heat and cover to finish cooking, 2-4 more minutes
  • Plate with sauce on top
Results:
  • I tried putting sugar in the nuts but it was maybe a little too sweet
  • I tried searing the scallops on medium high but that burned the nuts. Lower heat! You're not searing the scallop meat, remember.
  • The nuts could be more buttery, perhaps fry the scallops in butter? Or sauce on top?
  • I tried handling the scallops with chopsticks but it sliced through them. Have to use fingers.

References:
  • https://www.jamesbeard.org/recipes/macadamia-crusted-scallops-with-citrus-beurre-blanc
  • http://www.cookinghawaiianstyle.com/hawaiian-recipes/recipes/detail/1918/macadamia-nut-praline-scallops
  • http://lowcarbhighfatrecipes.com/brown-butter-cream-sauce-the-perfect-keto-sauce/
  • https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/seared-scallops-recipe-1916984


Raw notes
  • 60g dry roasted salted macadamia nuts, minced. (I tried 32g but it was only enough to cover 6 of my 10 scallops!)
  • 0.95 lbs scallops, rinsed and patted very dry with paper towel. they actually kinda don't smell great, i probably should have bought frozen.
  • season scallops with salt, pepper, garlic powder
  • dredge in flour. very little is needed, maybe a couple tbsp. i wasted most of a half cup.
  • i stirred in one tsp of brown sugar with the nuts. 
  • make the brown butter cream sauce. it will stand.
  • sear scallops on medium for 3 minutes, then flip. medium high was too high! blackened the bottoms.
  • recipe says to put in oven, but im not doing that. instead i seared for 2 minutes on medium, then covered to cook on low for another 2 minutes. seemed fine