pan seared scallops with sesame sauce

It has been quite a minute since I've been on here, has it not?  It's actually a little scary to think it's been nearly four months since my last post but feels like yesterday.  I remember being a young adult and having older adults warn me how fast life will go, the older I get.  They were not joking one. single. tiny. bit.  

I have been in my kitchen some this summer, but not much at all.  We have traveled pretty regularly, leaving out on our first trip the day after school got out (you can read about our mission trip here) and getting back from our fourth this past weekend.  In the middle of those was a jaunt up north to Indiana.  

When we visit family, you can bet we'll have a cooler, along with a bag or two, of groceries sent home with us.  It's just how family is, and this last trip was no different.  Within the load of groceries were a bag of bay scallops and box of Asian noodles (Shan Dong, to be exact).  So I set out on a search for an easy recipe to combine those two ingredients, imagining something a little sweet, savory and spicy would work nicely.  

We really, really enjoyed this dish and I LOVED the short prep time.  I believe it took me about 20 minutes from start to finish.  Super-big flavor in minutes flat?  Ladies and gentleman, we have ourselves a winner.

Pan Seared Scallops with Sesame Sauce

makes four servings
printable recipe

• 8 oz Asian noodles
• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tbsp olive or vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 pounds scallops (I used small bay scallops)
• 1/4 cup scallions, chopped

1.  Cook noodles according to package directions.

2.  While noodles cook, in a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, cornstarch and red pepper flakes.  Set aside.

3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add scallops and cook until golden.  Turn with spatula and continue to cook until second side is golden.  Add soy sauce mixture to pan and bring to simmer, about two minutes, until sauce thickens and scallops are cooked through and have an opaque color.

4.  Serve scallops over noodles, toss, and top with scallions.

Recipe from Robin Miller, by way of foodnetwork.com.