Scallops with ginger-spiced lemon butter and pickled carrots

Instructions

1. 1

   To prepare the carrots, shave them into fine ribbons using a mandoline or vegetable peeler. Put in a shallow bowl with the shallot, garlic and chilli. Heat the wine, vinegar and sugar with 100ml water in a pan over a low heat, until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to a simmer, then pour over the carrots, making sure they are completely submerged. Cover and leave to cool. Meanwhile, put the softened butter in a bowl with the lemon zest, juice and grated ginger. Use electric beaters (or beat by hand with a wooden spoon) to combine, then season with salt.

2. 2

   Mix the breadcrumbs and finely chopped coriander leaves in a small bowl. Melt 1 tbsp of the flavoured butter in a large non-stick frying pan with 1 tsp olive oil, then add the breadcrumb mixture and cook, stirring regularly, until golden. Transfer to a bowl, season and set aside.

3. 3

   When you are ready to cook the scallops, drain the pickled carrots and put them in a bowl, discarding the garlic. (You can chill the leftover pickling liquor for a few days and use in dressings.) Add the salad onions and torn coriander to the carrots, season with salt and dress with the rapeseed oil. Use kitchen paper to pat the scallops dry, then toss in the remaining olive oil and season. Wipe out the frying pan used for the breadcrumbs and heat until almost smoking. Add the scallops and fry for 2 minutes, using a spatula to press them down so that the undersides are in contact with the pan and caramelise evenly. Turn the scallops and fry for a further minute, using the spatula to lightly press them down again.

4. 4

   Add the remaining flavoured butter to the pan. When it starts to foam, baste the scallops with it for a minute until golden. Serve the scallops straight away on warm plates, with a drizzle of the butter, the crumbs scattered over and the pickled carrots on the side.