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Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette

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Lovely Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette – A striking combination that will have your guests begging for more!

Mind Blowing Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com

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.

Love this Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com

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

In Love - Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com

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.

Making Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com

Pat the scallops dry and remove the “foot.” Sprinkle with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper.

How to Make Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com

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.

Step 1 - Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com

Best Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com

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.

Love this Heavenly Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com

Heavens! Just look at those scallops.

Awesome Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com

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!

The Best Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com

In Love - Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - ASpicyPerspective.com
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Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 19 minutes
Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette - Fresh and surprising! This unique combination is elegant and inviting.
Servings: 8 first-course portions

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
  • 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 254kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 7mg, Sodium: 83mg, Potassium: 447mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 2210IU, Vitamin C: 27.6mg, Calcium: 57mg, Iron: 1.2mg
Course: Appetizer, Salad, Seafood
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier

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53 comments on “Seared Scallops on Watermelon Salad with Sparkling Mint Vinaigrette”

  1. Pingback: 7 Interesting Ways To Serve Watermelon Salads This Summer - Casa Watkins Living

  2. Pingback: Creative Lifestyle| All Things Watermelon Round-up

  3. 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!

  4. 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.

  5. 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!

  6. Beautiful color on your scallops! So light and flavorful~just right for warm summer nights.

  7. This dish looks amazing. The scallops are wonderful. I also love your vinaigrette idea. Perfect for summer….

  8. 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

  9. Absolutely wonderful…The presentation, the flavors, the sear and photos…Spectacular!

  10. 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

  11. Sommer Dear – Those scallops are perfectly seared and the sauce is incredible. What a combination with the watermelon!!! WOW!

    Devaki@weavethousandflavors

  12. 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!

  13. 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!

  14. Gorgeous! I can tell from the photo that you cooked that scallop perfectly.

  15. 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. :)

  16. 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!

  17. 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!

  18. Your wheels were turned into right direction. The dish looks yummily amazing. Salad so refreshing with mint and melon. I wish I was digging one of those right now.

  19. Wow, that's gorgeous. I love the vinaigrette especially. Well, and the scallop. Um, and that watermelon. :)

  20. Beautiful ! Can you send one over ? I love watermelon in salads though never thought about pairing it with scallops – thanks for the idea

  21. Wow, what a gorgeous scallop dish! Perfect for summer, love the twist :)

  22. This is gorgeous! So light and summery. I love your twist with the watermelon! Now I need to get out my rut…I'm totally inspired!

  23. Wow! I have been in a mental rut lately and this just blows it wide open!!

    Fantastic, though essentially simple combination. Love the colours, the flavours and LOVE that you used champagne vinegar for the dressing!

  24. What a great idea! I get caught in ruts sometimes too, and looking back, always am surprised at what simple little things drag me out of it.

  25. Very nice dish! The presentation is so pretty and you sound so inspired. P.S. I love the word "yumazing" :)

  26. I love watermelon in salads, and just everything, really! With scallops, yummy.

  27. Yum Sommer! This is true summer food. No cooking except for a quick sear and a cold salad with refreshing, hydrating watermelon. I like it! By the way, I'm going to send out your last post to all the people I know who want to open a restaurant but are too scared. Yeah!

  28. How wonderful, I had this at a fancy pants restaurant for an app – LOVE it

  29. colourful meal

  30. This looks absolutely unbelievable!! I do eat scallops, and this one is huge! Definitely bookmarking this recipe- thanks =)

  31. Oh, hey, hey, hey.. En Vogue

    Love the dish :-)

  32. What a great idea, I LOVE it! This is the second recipe I've seen that has called for champagne vinaigrette, I must find some!

  33. I adore scallops, Sommer, and this looks so perfect. Brian does not like them, so I usually reserve my scallop appetite for restaurants, but this makes me want to go out and buy all the scallops I can find and make them just for me. The flavors sound amazing.

  34. I adore scallops and yours look as near perfect as can be. This is a great recipe. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings…Mary

  35. Love that quote!
    Love these scallops.
    Reminds me a lot of the TUT messages I receive.

  36. I would have never thought to incorporate watermelon in a salad.. delicious! And after looking at this I have champagne in my fridge that might have to be added to a vinaigrette soon!

  37. That is a pan of perfectly seared scallops! And the presentation is delightful, perfect summer food fare!

    Bon appetit!
    =:~)

  38. Lovely presentation! Scallops and watermelon sound really good.

  39. A wonderful recipe! Those seared scallops look irresistible.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  40. I wish I liked scallops! This dish is beautiful. Isn't nice to be able to think outside the box?

  41. I feel as if I can taste the dish by looking at your zoom in photo of the juicy and plump scallop cushioned on the watermelon. It definitely looks yummy and and two thumbs up for the gorgeous presentation of the dish. :D

  42. amazing dish!

  43. ohlala…the scallop looks so succulent and perfectly seared!~ What a salivating creation!

  44. Wow. What a beautiful presentation. I am sure this must taste amazing, the watermelon would compliment the scallops perfectly. I love it! I am totally making this.

  45. Those scallops look perfectly cooked and sound just wonderful atop a watermelon!

  46. I totally have those days too–it's almost like you force yourself to be creative to get out of a rut. Your creativity clearly worked in your favor. I can imagine how nice the scallops are with the watermelon.

  47. Yumazing! I love that word! You sound like the next Rachael Ray! This looks so amazing, I can't believe your creativity. Could you send some of it this way please? I feel like I'm in a creativity rut these days!

  48. Too clever! I love your creativity and I have trouble believing that you have any blah moments! I must try this recipe, the watermelon looks so fresh and the scallops so succulent, wow what a combination:-)

  49. Sparkling! This looks fantastic! Nice and fancy.

  50. Absolutely gorgeous dish…love the creativity and the way you mix such a variety of ingredients…would love to try it :-) And the pictures are awesome!

  51. Belinda~ I love that you got my En Vogue reference!

  52. Be colorblind…this looks lovely!! Love scallops.

  53. I like your invention. The scallops look amazing.