Here’s a recipe from my first book: an elegant, creamy, and enveloping dish: this creamy potato and leek soup with roasted scallops is perfect for starting a special dinner or surprising your guests with simplicity and sophistication. The sweetness of the vegetables blends with the savory notes of the crispy pancetta and the delicate flavor of the scallops, creating a perfect balance.
Ingredients (for 4 people):
- 500 g of potatoes
- the white part of 2 leeks
- 12 scallops
- 1 l of vegetable broth
- 25 g of butter
- 150 ml of fresh cream
- 100 g of stretched bacon
- Salt, pepper
Procedure :
For the cream soup:
Clean and wash the leeks, slice them thinly, and cook them gently in a pan with the butter, covering with a lid and stirring frequently. Season lightly with salt to release the liquid. When the leeks are soft and melting, add the potatoes, previously peeled, washed, and thinly sliced. Let them simmer for a few minutes, then add the boiling vegetable broth and cook for about 30 minutes.
Blend everything together with an immersion blender until smooth. Stir in the fresh cream and bring back to a boil for one minute. Season with salt.
For the crispy bacon:
Cut the pancetta into very thin slices and fry them in a nonstick pan until crispy. Set aside on paper towels.
For the scallops:
Clean them, separating the coral from the nut (you can also make a sauce with the coral: blanch them briefly and blend them with oil and a pinch of salt to obtain a creamy sauce to use as a garnish). Roast the scallop nuts in a hot nonstick pan for about a minute per side. Season with salt and pepper.
Plating:
Pour the hot cream soup into soup bowls. Arrange three scallops on each plate and garnish with a slice of crispy pancetta. If desired, you can also add a few drops of coral sauce.
Creamy potato and leek soup with roasted scallops is a perfect example of how simple ingredients can become the protagonists of a refined dish, thanks to careful cooking and an elegant pairing. An ideal appetizer for special occasions or for a dinner where you can dazzle with taste and contrasting flavors and textures.
Enjoy your meal!
