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Sea Scallops with Pepper-Lemon Relish

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  • SERVINGS: 4
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Gypsy peppers—which are long, pointy and mild and come in a variety of colors—are popular on the West Coast. If you can't find them, use red bell peppers.

  1. 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  2. 1 tablespoon minced shallots
  3. 2 lemon quarters
  4. 1 gypsy pepper or 1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
  5. 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and coarsely chopped
  6. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
  7. Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  8. 1 head of frisée, torn into pieces
  9. 1 1/2 pounds large sea scallops
  1. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar and shallots and let stand for 5 minutes. Cut one of the lemon quarters into paper-thin slices. Finely chop the slices, including the rind, and add to the shallots along with the gypsy pepper, capers and the 1/4 cup olive oil. Squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon quarter into the relish and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the frisée on 4 plates and top with half of the lemon relish.
  2. Brush the scallops with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill or sear in a preheated grill pan, turning once, until the scallops are charred and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Arrange the scallops on the frisée, garnish with the remaining lemon relish and serve.