SOY CITRUS MARINATED SCALLOPS

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 25 min

2/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger
2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
2 lb large sea scallops (30), tough muscle removed from side of each if necessary
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Garnish: 2 teaspoons sesame seeds (preferably black), toasted
Accompaniment: soba salad

Whisk together soy sauce, lemon and lime juices, sugar, ginger, and sesame oil in a wide shallow nonreactive bowl. Add scallops and marinate, covered, at room temperature, 5 minutes on each side (do not marinate any longer, or scallops will become mushy once cooked). Transfer scallops to a plate and reserve marinade.

Heat 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté scallops, 6 to 8 at a time, until golden brown and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes on each of the 2 flat sides, transferring to a plate as cooked. Wipe out skillet and add 1/2 teaspoon oil between batches.

Wipe out skillet again, then add marinade and boil until reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 2 minutes. Drizzle scallops with sauce.

Makes 6 servings.
 
Each serving contains about 198 calories and 5 grams fat.

SOURCE: Gourmet, February 2002