Alaskan Scallops and Striped Shrimp in Savignon Blanc and Tarragon
Recipe courtesy Felix Zollinger, Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, AK
Poaching Liquid:
2 cups water
2 cups Savignon Blanc
3 large sprigs parsley
2 large sprigs fresh tarragon
2 bay leaves
2 sprigs celery tops
Parsley-Tarragon Puree:
3 tablespoon chopped parsley
1/3 cup fresh chopped tarragon
Beurre Manier:
2 ounce soft unsalted butter
1/8 cup flour
22 ounces Alaskan scallops {25 to 30 per pound}
24 ounces Alaskan striped shrimp
2 ounces unsalted butter, 3 ounces, softened
3 teaspoons minced shallot
2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 cup Sauvignon Blanc
3 cups half-and-half
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Kosher salt
White pepper
For the poaching liquid: Place all ingredients in a casserole large enough to hold the liquids. Bring to a rapid boil, remove from heat and set aside. Let sit for 15 minutes. Strain and keep warm. For the Parsley-Tarragon Puree: Place parsley, tarragon, and 1/2 cup poaching liquid in a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside. For the Beurre Manie: In a bowl, mix together the butter and flour to form a smooth paste. Set aside.
Bring 3 cups of the poaching liquid to a simmer in a large saucepan. Add 4 each of the scallops and shrimp and poach for 3 to 4 minutes or until the shrimp tails are firm. Remove from broth. Remove heads and shells. Keep tails intact. Keep scallops and shrimp covered and warm. In a large saute pan melt 2 ounces butter and saute shallots and garlic. Add the remaining scallops and shrimp and saute for 1 minute. Add Savignon Blanc and 1 cup poaching liquid. Drain liquid into a clean pan, setting aside shrimp and scallops, and add two teaspoons beurre manier. Add half-and-half and whisk to a smooth sauce. Simmer for a few minutes. Add 3 ounces butter, whisk without cooking the sauce. Add both sets of scallops, the wine poached shrimp, lemon juice, kosher salt, and white pepper, to taste. Place one portion in a deep-dish plate. Garnish with one plain poached shrimp and one plain poached scallop. Place the tarragon and parsley puree making three dots in the sauce. Lean 3 fresh chives against the shrimp and scallop.