Bacon Wrapped Scallops are on a LOT of starter menus. For good reason. They are delicious!
Ingredients
12 scallops fresh or frozen
12 strips bacon
12 toothpicks
chives for garnish
FOR THE SAUCE
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 med onion finely chopped
3-4 cloves garlic
2 tomatoes chopped
2 Tbsp cajun seasoning
1/4 cup cream cheese
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (not grated like the Kraft kind)
1/4 – 1/2 cup chicken stock or veggie stock
3 – 4 tbsp heavy cream optional
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
MAKE THE SAUCE
Heat oil in a small pot. When its hot, throw in the onions and sauté for a few minutes. Then add the garlic and the tomatoes. Cook these for a bit until the tomatoes just melt into a sauce.
Turn the heat down to low. Add the cajun seasoning and the cream cheese and stir till the cheese melts. Add 1/4 cup of the chicken or veg stock. Then add the parmesan cheese and stir till it melts. It might get stringy, but just keep cooking it. It will melt into the sauce.
Puree the sauce with a hand held blender or in your blender until its very smooth and put it back into the pot. Add a bit more stock until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Salt and Pepper to taste and keep covered and warm until your scallops are ready.
MAKE THE SCALLOPS
If your scallops are frozen, thaw them by putting the package in cold water. They will thaw pretty quickly. Make sure to remove the beard or little muscle on each scallop if there is one. Read the post above to learn how.
In the meantime, heat up a skillet and cook the strips of bacon only part way done. You can do this in the oven too if you like.
Heat your oven to 450 degrees.
To assemble, wrap a piece of bacon around each scallop and secure with a toothpick. Place on a parchment lined baking tray.
Drizzle with olive oil if desired and place in the hot oven for 3 – 4 mins and then flip them and cook for another 3 – 4 mins depending on the size of the scallop.
Remove from the oven and arrange on a serving platter with the sauce.
