Make Your Own Piccata (With Scallops)

Piccata, piccata, piccata...what the heck is piccata? It's always an option at your local steak house, and is served at weddings and banquet parties all the time- usually in the form of "Chicken-Piccata"or "Veal-Piccata". It appears to be some fancy-schmancy recipe that you need a culinary degree to appropriately create, but rest assured- NICHe in the KITCHe is here to set the record straight and give you the authority to PICCATA, PICCATA, PICCATA all the way home!

As Wikipedia explains, "Piccata" is an Italian word and really just means, "Sliced, sautéed and served with lemon, parsley and butter sauce". Not so intimidating after all-it's really just a method! You & I can do this, and I'll show you how!

Ingredients & Recipe:
Printable Recipe

• 2 lbs. sea scallops (about 16)
• S & P
• Canola oil
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 3/4 cup of vermouth (from your bar)
• 4 Tbls. flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 3 Tbls. lemon juice
• 2 Tbls. butter
• 5 tsp. capers (from a jar)

Start by heating a large skillet over medium-high heat. Be sure to dry off each scallop with a paper towel (they will brown better if they are bone-dry), sprinkle with S & P. Drizzle in about 1 Tbls. of oil into the pan, add the scallops, cook about 4-5 minutes, turning once (when they are "opaque", not translucent anymore, they are done). Remove them from the pan onto a side-dish, place a piece of foil over them to keep warm.

Turn the heat down to medium. Add the garlic to the pan, followed by the vermouth. Use a rubber spatula mix it up and incorporate all the brown bits on the bottom of the pan (those bits are very flavorful!!). Cook about 2 minutes until it has reduced by half. Take the pan off the heat, then add in the parsley, lemon juice, butter & capers, stirring constantly. (This is your "Piccata")

Place your cooked scallops over a bed of prepared brown rice, spinach or pasta. Drizzle the sauce over the scallops, serve with a nice glass of wine & enjoy!

You Could Also Try...

• Not sure what kind of wine to serve? Check this out!
• Turn this recipe into CHICKEN, VEAL OR PORK PICCATA! Prepare your meat (grill it, saute it, bake it) then top it with the sauce!