To serve over pasta, prepare 1/2 pound spaghetti or linguine and reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water. Add cooked pasta to sauce with enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to reach desired consistency. Toss to coat pasta, add tarragon, and return scallops to pan.
Recipe inspired by Chowhound.
Seared Scallops with Lemon Vodka Pasta
Ingredients
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1 pound sea scallops
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1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
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2/3 cup Angel Fire Vodka
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2 tablespoons heavy cream
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1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
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1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
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2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves
Directions
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Pat scallops dry with paper towels, rub with 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
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Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large frying pan over high heat. When oil shimmers, add scallops and cook on each side until golden brown, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to a plate and reserve.
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Remove the pan from heat and carefully add Angel Fire Vodka, scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, and stir to incorporate into the sauce. Return the pan to medium-low heat and add cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest; stir to combine. Return scallops and any accumulated juices to the pan and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
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Stir in tarragon and serve with bread as an hors d’oeuvre or over pasta as a main course.
