Seared Pan-Fried Limed Scallops With Bacon, Chives and Chervil

Ingredients

DRESSING

• 1 tablespoon walnut vinegar
• 2 tablespoons light olive oil or sunflower oil
• 1 tablespoon runny honey
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• salt
• fresh ground black pepper

SALAD

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chervil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
• mixed salad green
• cherry tomato (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   First, make the dressing - this can be made up to one day in advance.

2. 2

   Mix the walnut vinegar, olive or sunflower oil, honey & Dijon mustard together in a jar. Add salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste. Seal and set to one side.

3. 3

   About 1 hour before you want to serve the scallops, wash them, pat them dry, and then leave them to marinate in the zest and juice of the lime. Mix them around, ensuring that they all get a coating of the lime.

4. 4

   Then, cook the streaky bacon in a large frying pan until very crispy and well coloured. Set the one side.

5. 5

   When you wish to serve the salad, arrange all the leaves into attractive individual salad bowls or plates.

6. 6

   In a large frying pan or skillet, add a mere dash of olive oil to grease the pan and set it over a very high heat. As soon as the frying pan is very hot, add the scallops - watch them VERY closely, they need about 2 minutes EACH side depending on the size and thickness of them - you must NOT overcook them!

7. 7

   When they have been seared & cooked both sides, take them out of the frying pan & arrange them over the top of the salad leaves. (Six scallops per person for a main meal and four per person for a starter.).

8. 8

   Pour the dressing over the top and then crumble the bacon over - keeping fairly large pieces. (Three rashers per person for a main meal and 2 rashers per person for a starter.).

9. 9

   Finally, liberally sprinkle the chopped chervil and chives over the top of the salad; garnish with cherry tomatoes & a slice of lime if you wish.