Bay Scallop Gratin

Scallops are one of our favorite occasional seafood indulgences. In the past, we've mostly seared them, but Whitney spotted this gratin recipe from Ina Garten for us to try. We enjoyed the chance to use our mixer and ramekins. I didn't know what a gratin was, but it turned out great! (Just looked it up - it's an ingredient topped with a browned crust.)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

6 large garlic cloves, minced

2 medium shallots, minced

2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto di Parma, minced

4 tablespoons minced fresh parsley, plus extra for garnish

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tablespoons Pernod (we substituted some more white wine here)

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

6 tablespoons good olive oil

1/2 cup panko

6 tablespoons dry white wine

2 pound fresh bay scallops

Lemon, for garnish

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place 6 (6-inch round) gratin dishes on a sheet pan.

To make the topping, place the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (you can also use a hand mixer). With the mixer on low speed, add the garlic, shallot, prosciutto, parsley, lemon juice, Pernod, salt, and pepper and mix until combined. With the mixer still on low, add the olive oil slowly as though making mayonnaise, until combined. Fold the panko in with a rubber spatula and set aside.

Preheat the broiler, if it's separate from your oven.

Place 1 tablespoon of the wine in the bottom of each gratin dish. With a small sharp knife, remove the white muscle and membrane from the side of each scallop and discard. Pat the scallops dry with paper towels and distribute them among the 3 dishes (we soaked them in lemon water first, like with the seared scallops). Spoon the garlic butter evenly over the top of the scallops. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the topping is golden and sizzling and the scallops are barely done. If you want the top crustier, place the dishes under the broiler for 2 minutes, until browned. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkling of chopped parsley and serve immediately with crusty French bread (we'll have to do this next time!).

Scallops ready for their topping

Mixing up the topping

All done, with some broccoli to offset the decadent gratin