Truffled Bay Scallops with Celery Purée

An elegant dish combining tender bay scallops with a smooth celery and potato purée, elevated with luxurious black truffle butter. The delicate scallops are perfectly seared and served atop a velvety vegetable purée for a sophisticated seafood entrée.

4 servings
21 min

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chicken stock or reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • cups celery
  • ½ cup chopped peeled potato
  • ¼ cup finely chopped onion
  • ½ cup flat-leaf parsley sprigs
  • 1 lb bay scallops
  • 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 3 Tbsp black truffle butter
  • 1 garnish celery leaves

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Simmer broth, celery, potato, onion, and 1/4 tsp salt in a small heavy saucepan, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Add parsley and cook, uncovered, 1 minute. Purée mixture in a blender until very smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Keep warm in saucepan.

    16 min

  2. 2.

    Pat scallops dry and season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté scallops until barley cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Add truffle butter and stir until melted, then transfer scallops with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Stir celery purée into truffle butter in skillet. Spoon onto plates, then mound scallops in center and sprinkle with celery leaves.

    5 min

  3. 3.

    Purée (without truffle butter) can be made 1 day ahead and chilled. Reheat in a microwave or in a saucepan over low heat before stirring into truffle butter.