SCALLOPS are the perfect party-food ingredient: they are just the right size and shape to pop in the mouth in one bite. More importantly, though, very little has to be done to them to bring out their flavour. This is a cool way to add a bit of Mexican spice to your next party. If you don't have tortillas to use as the base, you can just use a baguette sliced thin and toasted in the oven until golden.
3 flour tortillas
Olive oil
Sea salt
2 avocados
80g sour cream
Juice of 4 limes
Pepper
Tabasco sauce
2 roma tomatoes
¼ red onion, finely chopped
80ml (1/3 cup) extra-virgin olive oil
1 handful of coriander leaves,
finely chopped
24 sea scallops
Preheat the oven to 160C. Cut the tortillas into 4-cm round shapes or similar-sized wedges and place on baking tray. Drizzle with a little olive oil and sea salt and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until crisp and golden.
Preheat a barbecue grill to medium-high. Halve the avocados, remove the stones and cook flesh-side down for 2 to 3 minutes, remove from the skin and blend with the sour cream in a food processor. Add the juice of one lime and season with salt, pepper and a dash of tabasco sauce.
To make the salsa core the tomatoes, cut them into quarters and remove the seeds. Using a sharp knife, finely dice the flesh and mix with the onion, oil, coriander and the remaining lime juice. Season with salt and pepper. Increase the barbecue heat to high. Sear the scallops on a lightly oiled hotplate.
To construct, place a teaspoon of avocado mix on the tortilla, then a scallop and the salsa.
Makes 24
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