Peter Gordon

Steamed Scallops with Buttered Leeks, Capers and Sherry Vinegar

Preparation info

  • Serves

    2

    as a starter

    • Difficulty

      Medium

Appears in

A World in My Kitchen

A World in My Kitchen

By Peter Gordon

Published 2003

  • About

This recipe is fairly straightforward and the simple flavours really shine through. It’s important that the scallops are really fresh and not soaked in water — as these will just shrivel up and make the leeks very sloppy. Ask your fishmonger for unsoaked scallops, cleaned, and with the coral intact.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium leek, sliced into ¼ cm(1/8 in) rings, rinsed well
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or balsamic vinegar or lemon juice
  • salt
  • 4-6 scallops (depending on size)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon capers, drained
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Method

    Sauté leek in butter until soft and just beginning to colour. Add vinegar and a little salt and cook over a high heat until vinegar has almost evaporated.

    Bring a deep saucepan of water to a rapid boil, place a steamer on top with a plate inside and cover. Mix scallops with oil, capers and a little salt and pepper. Place leek mixture on plate in the steamer, then sit scallops on top, place apart to allow even cooking. Cover and cook until done. Small scallops will take up to 90 seconds, with ones the size of a walnut taking around 4 minutes. They are cooked when they’re just opaque inside – any more and they can be too chewy. Remove plate and serve hot, straight away, with warm, buttered bread.