Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette
Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette – A striking combination that will have your guests begging for more!
Need a little va-va-voom in your life? Something to help you break out of the mundane? Every now and again, I feel like I’m stuck in a rut.
Same schedule, same clothes, same workout, same thoughts, same conversations, same meals… Blah! Of course by nature, I’m a planner so I do like schedules. Yet, even we planners need a little excitement in our lives.
Sometimes, one tiny change can get the ball rolling for transition out of dreary gray routine. One minuscule shift can starts the domino effect in all areas of your life.
Last month I had a blah week. As I was preparing dinner one evening, it struck me that perhaps it would be nice to add watermelon to our salad, instead of tomatoes. Nothing revolutionary, just chopped watermelon. The melon added the same watery-bite and sweetness as ripe tomatoes, but with an element of surprise.
I thought to myself, “Girl, you need to think like that more often! It only took one small adjustment to make this green salad sing. Surely you can do even better with a little thought.” Hmmm…
With my wheels turning, this is what I came up with. Fast and fabulous Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette.
Cool, hot, soft, crisp, buttery, light, yummazing!
Not only that, it inspired me to make adjustments to several other blah meals I’ve been cooking. Now, how about you give it a try. After all…
The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions. ~Ellen Glasgow
To prepare Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette:
Cut watermelon into 8 half inch rounds. Slice the radishes thin and set aside.
Pat the scallops dry and remove the “foot.” Sprinkle with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper.
Heat a large skillet to high. Drizzle a scant amount of oil in the skillet and carefully rub it around with a paper towel. When the skillet is smoking hot, place the scallops top down. Sear for 1 1/2 minutes until you can see caramelization around the edges.
Using tongs or a metal spatula, flip the scallops. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet and cook 1-2 more minutes.
Puree a quick mint vinaigrette with champagne vinegar.
Then plate the seared scallops on top of the watermelon with arugula leaves and radishes all around. Drizzle the sparkling mint vinaigrette over the top.
Heavens! Just look at those scallops.
I want to make these Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette again and again and again. Yet that would start another rut.
Once every few weeks is going to have to do!
Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mint leaves
- 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
- 1/2 cup grape seed oil + 1 teaspoon for skillet
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
- 8 extra large diver scallops sometimes called colossal
- Cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 8 slices watermelon half-inch thick
- 1 bunch radishes
- 5 ounces baby arugula
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Puree the mint, vinegar, grape seed oil, agave, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in the blender. Set aside. Using a 2- to 3-inch cookie cutter, cut the watermelon into 8 rounds. Slice the radishes thin and set aside.
- Pat the scallops dry and remove the “foot.” Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a little cayenne pepper.
- Heat a large skillet to high. Drizzle a scant amount of oil in the skillet and carefully rub it around with a paper towel. When the skillet is smoking hot, place the scallops top down. Sear for 1 1/2 minutes until you can see caramelization around the edges. Using tongs or a metal spatula, flip the scallops. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet and cook 1-2 more minutes.
- To assemble: Place one watermelon round on each plate and sprinkle arugula and radishes around it. Top the watermelon with a large seared scallop. Drizzle with mint vinaigrette and serve while the scallop is warm.
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This is brilliant! Never would’ve thought to combine these summer favorites together but now I really want to try it! And yayyy for finding your way out of a rut in the best way possible!
Wow! The picture alone attracts one to this seafood salad – if that if a fair description. I cannot wait to make it. I've got everything except the mellon and I substitute a Big Fat slice of ripe tomato – although I do want to try the mellon.
If the secret truth is known, I will eat a seared fat scollop with almost anything, to a round of mellin is an easy leap. Good presentation and truly world-class pix. Thank you.
I wish we could get decent watermelons here in the UK – they are never as sweet as you will have them. That is a lovely idea, though!
Beautiful color on your scallops! So light and flavorful~just right for warm summer nights.
This dish looks amazing. The scallops are wonderful. I also love your vinaigrette idea. Perfect for summer….
i love this, new va va boom, always great to mix it up a bit..and your watermelon disks paired with seafood, perfect..I think watermelon gets put off to the side sometimes, great idea
sweetlife
Absolutely wonderful…The presentation, the flavors, the sear and photos…Spectacular!
Sommer…If ever my favourite scallops would have been served on watermelon that I usually devour quite nicely on it's own…It would certainly bring me a very unexpected element of surprise.
I just may try it since you made me curious ;o)
Ciao for now,
Claudia
Sommer Dear – Those scallops are perfectly seared and the sauce is incredible. What a combination with the watermelon!!! WOW!
Devaki@weavethousandflavors
Sommer, if you don't get a new post up soon, I'm going to claw through my screen trying to eat this! Every time I stop by it tempts me to eat it. It's just so beautiful!
I so love freshly cooked scallops & I surely looovvvveeee this tasty & well flavoured dish!!
The combo of the scallops, mint & watermelon is fantastic!!
MMMMMMMMMMM,…kisses from Brussels!
Gorgeous! I can tell from the photo that you cooked that scallop perfectly.
When I saw this title I knew I just had to check it out and you did not disappoint! I am so glad you followed your inspiration because this looks just phenomenal and so summery! I would have loved to have sat at your table and enjoyed this. :)
What a fun idea! I actually put salt on my watermelon and it's really good, so I'm sure it's great with a "savory" meal. And I like the sparkling mint vinaigrette. Fun!
this is certainly a wow!! those scallops look incredible, such a great crust on them with all those wonderful spices!! And then on top of a watermelon round, what a perfect combination…the coolness of the watermelon against the spicy scallop!!! just amazing!