Squid Ink Pasta with Seafood

This recipe is inspired by a dish served at one of my favorite local St. Louis restaurants and is the only item on the menu I order when I go there.  The combination of the wonderfully briny and beautifully black squid ink pasta, delicate scallops, tender lobster meat, and sweet, succulent prawns immediately draw you in, then you’re surprised with the perfect finish of an added layer of acidity using lemon-infused olive oil, lemon juice, fresh parsley, and just a bit of heat from the chili flakes.  Sweet, salty, acidic, and spicy!

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Grilled Scallops with Bacon-Shallot Vinaigrette

 

Have you ever eaten a bacon wrapped scallop?  If your experience was anything like mine, either the scallop was sweet and tender, and the bacon was raw and chewy, or the scallop was annihilated and the bacon perfectly crispy.  It’s pretty obvious the dish is virtually impossible to master.

As an alternative, this recipe still gives you the flavor pairing of the scallop and the bacon, except the bacon is crispy as it should be and the scallop is still tender and sweet.  The tangy vinaigrette also adds a nice level of acid to even out some of the fat from the bacon. I served the scallops with prepared couscous as an entrée. However, this would work well as an appetizer too.

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Bayou Seafood Dinner

I had a craving for some Cajun spiced shrimp last weekend, which quickly evolved into this tasty seafood dish. The sweet, tender shrimp, buttery scallops, and mild, flaky cod picked up all the delicious spices of the smoky Cajun seasonings, and the crisp sweetness of the corn along with the unique flavor and texture of the okra added a bright, crunchy finish.

I loved this meal so much, I was thankful there were leftovers for lunch the next day!

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