A quick but impressive starter of plump scallops scattered with toasted breadcrumbs.

Prep Time

    •    Prep time: 5 minutes
    •    Cook time: 30 minutes
    •    Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

    •    6 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil
    •    3 slices day-old white bread
    •    1 garlic clove, finely chopped
    •    juice of a lemon, plus wedges to serve
    •    4 concave scallops shells, as serving dishes
    •    large handful fresh finely chopped flatleaf parsley
    •    12 large fresh scallops, separated from their shells

Method

1. Rinse the scallops in cold water then pat dry with kitchen paper. With scissors, snip off the corals (the orange part) as closely as you can to the plump white scallop, and reserve. Scrub the scallop shells thoroughly and dry them.
   
   
2. Remove the crusts from the bread and discard. Break the bread into smallish pieces, then pulse in the food processor to make into fine breadcrumbs. Tip into a large non-stick frying pan and toast the breadcrumbs over a moderate heat, stirring every now and then. When they are evenly browned, set aside.
   
   
3. Brush any crumbs from the pan with kitchen paper then add the olive oil. When hot, add the scallops but not the corals. Fry over a moderate heat for 3 minutes on each side, then add the corals, chopped parsley and garlic and fry a further minute. If you have shelled your own scallops and saved some of their sweet juice, strain it through muslin to remove any sand then add it to the pan now and let it bubble over a high heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper, add the lemon juice and mix well.
   
   
4. Spoon three scallops and their corals with some of the pan juices onto each of the cleaned shells, then scatter with the dry toasted breadcrumbs. Serve with the lemon wedges.