scallop tomato and basil salad

Every once in a while, I take the liberty to work from home, not only because I can, but because I actually get an incredible amount of work done when I’m not idly chit-chatting with people. Oh who am I kidding. It’s because I can. I mean, really, I have the interwebs.

The habits of a person who works from home is not unlike that of a food blogger. I’m in my pyjamas all day, trotting between the kitchen and living room in my Peter Alexander booties (which I adore and have in both pink and purple), scratching my butt (cos there is no one to see me ok) and wondering what to eat.

Actually, mainly I’m just wondering what to eat.

I had one such work-from-home day last week, which I spent trawling through the pantry, actually I re-arranged the pantry, trying to satiate an unidentifiable craving which haunted me all day. I nibbled at potato chips, nuts, fruit, some incredible chocolate daifukus all the way from the wondrous land of Nippon, more nuts, licorice, carrot sticks, and yoghurt. 

But I couldn’t get my fix. Sad.

By late afternoon I’d ingested a stupid amount of food, and felt like a Big. Fat. Beached. Whale. and decided that dinner should be something ridiculously healthy.

[Is it wrong that I was even thinking about dinner after that binge?]

I zeroed in on something to do with fish. White fish. Steamed? Panfried? Salad? Oh crap, do I even have fish at home? Crap crap crappity crap, I don’t. Urgh, and this, this is the bane of my work-from-home existence. God forbid, to have to go out to do something.

I looked at myself in the mirror and recoiled with mild horror at the state of my hair and dude, you in the mirror, did you even brush your teeth today? I did, by the way. For the welfare of society (and no, not because I’m lazy, come on) I ruled myself unfit to be unleashed on the world. I needed alternatives to fish, something equally healthy, something light and in my fridge was… chorizo. That’s it. Geezus.

Reluctantly, I resigned myself to the notion of going outside, all the way to Waitrose. And as I sighed and dragged my heavy food-filled glutton ass off the couch, the door buzzed. I’m sorry, I meant GOD BUZZED. Because I did pray very very very hard for something to just appear on my doorstep. But I mean, that never really happens! Or does it…

[Queue X-Files creepy anthem]

Lo’ and behold, the good people at Abel & Cole to the rescue. And I must have been a good girl because God gave me better than fish. He gave me scallops. Big fat juicy fresh scallops. With Roe. I think a little bit of me converted right then and there and kids, if any kids actually read this, take heed – be good! and pray! It works 🙂

By the way, my mum now reads this blog. Hi mum!

Scallop tomato and basil salad
6-8 large scallops (preferably with roe)
Handful of cherry tomatos, halved
Handful of basil
Rocket leaves
Mixed dried herbs
Juice of half a lemon
Olive oil
Cracked pepper and salt to taste
  1. Heat some olive oil in a saucepan. When ready, add tomatos, sprinkle over with mixed herbs. Stir on low heat until the tomatos are slightly soft.
  2. Remove from heat. Roll some basil leaves and cut into thin slices, add to the saucepan. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the saucepan and mix well.
  3. Prepare a plate of rocket salad, and top with tomato and basil. Set aside.
  4. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a pan. Season one side of the scallop with salt & pepper. Place the scallop seasoned side down and cook for 1-2 minutes. Season the other side, and flip the scallops over, cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  5. When golden brown, serve on top of prepared rocket, tomato and basil salad.
Serves 2 as a starter.

3 Thoughts on “because I prayed for scallops. with roe.

  1. Looks delicious. I’ll try that out.

  2. Am in the midst of ‘having scallops delivered to your door’ envy. Looks (and sounds) very tasty.

  3. Penn: Thanks 🙂

    Linh: Yes, some wishes do come true! T’was very light and tasty 🙂

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