Celebrating the way of St James. Vieiras De Santiago - Day 97 of 100 Food Stories.

Flamed scallops in tomato sauce , served hot in their shells topped with crispy buttered breadcrumbs.

​Scallops are the symbol of St James (Santiago) , and this dish is associated with his shrine at Santiago De Compostella in Galicia. The flamed scallops are covered in tomato sauce and are served hot in their curved shells, with crispy buttered breadcrumbs on top.

Scallops celebrating The Way of Santiago de Compostella.

​Ingredients:
Serves 4.
​
Tomato Sauce.
2 tablespoons olive oil.
1 onion, finely chopped.
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped.
Pinch of sugar.
Pinch of cayenne.
Pinch of smoked paprika.
1 can cherry tomatoes.
50 grms of butter.
Juice of 1 orange.

10 - 12 scallops, detached from shell & cleaned.
2 tablespoons brandy.
6 tablespoons Panko crumbs.
A good knob of butter.
Grated zest of one orange.
Chopped parsley

Both the sauce and breadcrumbs can be prepared earlier.

​
​Method:

1. Begin by making the tomato sauce. Heat oil in a pan and gently sauté onion and garlic for 5 minutes.
2. Then add tomatoes, sugar, cayenne, sweet paprika and seasoning. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove and blitz sauce until it is smooth. Set aside.
3. Melt the knob of butter in a pan and add the breadcrumbs and orange zest and continue cooking until you get a golden brown colour.  Add chopped parsley. Set aside.
4. Both the sauce and breadcrumbs can be prepared earlier.
5. When ready to serve, heat the 50 grms of butter in a hot pan. Pop in the scallops and sear them for 2 minutes on each side. Add the brandy, orange juice and tomato sauce. Bring up the boil and pull off the heat.
6. Put scallops in the shells, with a nice amount of sauce.
7. Scatter the buttered crumbs on top and serve.