Steamed and Seared Shellfish in Coconut Broth

Steamed and Seared Shellfish in Coconut Broth
Photo: © Quentin Bacon
Yield:
8

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons canola oil

  • 2 large fresh shiitake mushrooms, coarsely chopped

  • 2 shallots, coarsely chopped

  • 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh ginger

  • 2 stalks fresh lemongrass, tops discarded, bulbs cut into 1-inch lengths, or 1 (2-inch) strip of lemon zest

  • 2 sprigs of basil

  • 2 sprigs of cilantro

  • 1 1/2 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth

  • 1 1/2 cups bottled clam juice

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk

  • 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 8 large sea scallops (about 6 ounces)

  • 8 large shrimp, shelled and deveined (about 6 ounces)

  • 8 small bok choy leaves

  • 2 (1 1/2 -pound) cooked lobsters, shelled, tails halved lengthwise, claw meat left whole

  • 2 plum tomatoes, each cut into 4 slices

Directions

  1. Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a medium saucepan. Add the shiitakes, shallots and ginger and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the lemongrass, basil, cilantro, chicken stock and clam juice and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes.

  2. Strain the broth and return it to the saucepan. Boil over high heat until reduced to 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Add the coconut milk and simmer for 3 minutes. Stir in the sesame oil, season with salt and pepper and keep warm.

  3. In a skillet, heat the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil until almost smoking. Season the scallops with salt and pepper and sear over high heat until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook until browned and almost cooked through, about 2 minutes.

  4. In a steamer over a pan of simmering water, cook the shrimp and bok choy until the shrimp are just cooked through and the boy choy is bright green, about 1 minute. Transfer to a plate. Add the lobster tails and claws and steam until heated through, about 30 seconds.

  5. Transfer the coconut broth to a blender and blend for 30 seconds. Put a tomato slice in each of 8 warmed soup plates. Set a scallop on each tomato slice and arrange 1 shrimp, 1 bok choy leaf and 1 lobster claw or tail half alongside. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the coconut broth into each plate and serve.

Notes

One Serving

Calories 126 kcal, Total Fat 5.3 gm, Saturated Fat 3 gm

Suggested Pairing

The rich shellfish pairs well with a cuvée that exhibits beautiful honeyed aromatics. As an alternative, try a rosé from southern France.

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