Grilled Scallops on Rosemary Skewers

Adapted from Waldy Malouf | High Heat | Broadway Books, 2003

Using rosemary branches to skewer scallops makes for a whimsical presentation and also imparts a little of rosemary’s slightly piney flavor. Keep in mind that the high heat will probably cause the rosemary leaves to brown or fall off when they’re cooked, so don’t expect them to look like they do when assembled. Or if you really love their fresh green leaves, individually wrap the ends of the sprigs in aluminum foil before cooking. In either case, you can also garnish the plates with fresh rosemary sprigs.–Waldy Malouf

☞ Table of Contents

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Grilled Scallops on Rosemary Skewers

Using rosemary branches as skewers imparts a bit of the herb's piney flavor to the scallop and also makes for a unique and beautiful presentation.

Prep 25 mins

Cook 55 mins

Total 1 hr 20 mins

Mains

American

4 servings

478 kcal

5 from 1 vote

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Ingredients 

For the scallops

• ▢ 16 small branches rosemary
• ▢ 16 large sea scallops
• ▢ 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• ▢ Coarse sea salt or kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the tomato chutney

• ▢ 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• ▢ 2 garlic cloves minced
• ▢ 2 jalapeno peppers seeded and diced
• ▢ 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• ▢ 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• ▢ 1/2 cup dry white wine
• ▢ 5 large ripe tomatoes cored, seeded and diced
• ▢ 1 cup finely chopped candied ginger
• ▢ Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Directions

 

Prepare the scallops

• Strip enough leaves off each rosemary branch to make room for 1 scallop and coarsely chop the rosemary leaves. Thread the scallops horizontally onto the branches and lay them on a plate. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and the chopped rosemary leaves evenly over the scallops and season with salt and pepper. Turn gently to coat and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Light the grill.

Make the tomato chutney

• Meanwhile, prepare the tomato chutney. Warm the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic, jalapeno, coriander, mustard powder, and cardamom and cook for another minute. Add the wine and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato and candied ginger and simmer until thick and jammy, about 20 to 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and cover to keep warm.

Grill the scallops

• Place the scallops on the grill (or use a grilling basket), and cook, turning once, until they are opaque throughout, about 5 minutes.
• To serve, spread the tomato chutney in a serving dish. Arrange the scallops on top, then sprinkle the lemon juice over all.

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Show Nutrition

Serving: 1portionCalories: 478kcal (24%)Carbohydrates: 47g (16%)Protein: 17g (34%)Fat: 23g (35%)Saturated Fat: 3g (19%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 29mg (10%)Sodium: 493mg (21%)Potassium: 917mg (26%)Fiber: 6g (25%)Sugar: 34g (38%)Vitamin A: 2100IU (42%)Vitamin C: 44mg (53%)Calcium: 102mg (10%)Iron: 3mg (17%)

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Recipe Testers’ Reviews

Jeremy Schweitzer

This dish is one of the better recipes I’ve discovered on this site. The skewers come together quickly and the chutney can easily be made in advance. I usually don’t like chutneys very much, but this version hit all the points perfectly. There was enough heat, spice, and acidity to balance the sweetness, and that in turn amplified the sweetness of the scallops perfectly. The directions for cooking the scallops yielded perfectly grilled scallops.

Originally published July 05, 2009