Today, May 16, is both National Mimosa Day and National Coquilles St. Jacques Day. It is also the Feast of Maria Bieşu, Jim Henson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Modibo Keïta, and Django Reinhardt. To celebrate, here are recipes for a Mimosa and Coquilles St. Jacques.
Coquilles St. Jacques
8 tbs unsalted butter, divided
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups seafood stock, clam juice or low-sodium chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream
¼ tsp curry powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 large shallots, peeled and diced, approximately 1 cup
12 oz cremini mushrooms, cleaned, stems discarded, sliced
¼ cup brandy or Cognac
1 ½ cups fresh bread crumbs (approximately 6 slices white bread, crusts removed, finely chopped or pulsed in a food processor)
¼ cup minced flat-leaf parsley
5 oz Gruyère cheese, grated
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds bay scallops, or quartered sea scallops, abductor muscles removed
Set a saucepan over medium heat, and melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in it. When it foams, add the flour, and cook for approximately 4 minutes, whisking constantly. Add the stock, and whisk again, until it is smooth and thick. Add the cream, curry powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bring the sauce just to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
Put 3 tablespoons butter in a large sauté pan set over medium heat. When it melts and foams, add the shallots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are clear and tender, approximately 5 minutes. Add the sliced mushroom caps, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until they have released their liquid and are just starting to brown. Add the brandy or Cognac, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the alcohol has mostly evaporated. Add a teaspoon of salt to the mixture and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, and stir again to combine. Add mushroom mixture to the cream sauce, and set aside.
Combine the bread crumbs, parsley and Gruyère in a large bowl, stir to combine, then moisten the mixture with the olive oil, stirring again to combine.
Use last tablespoon of butter to grease 6 1 1/2-cup gratin dishes. Divide the scallops evenly among them and top with equal amounts of the cream and mushroom sauce. Top each gratin dish with a handful or two of the bread-crumb mixture. Place dishes on a sheet tray, cover gently with foil or plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to a day.
When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 400. Remove cover from sheet tray, and place in the oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until the tops are lightly browned and bubbling and the scallops are cooked through.
Mimosa
1 (750 ml) bottle chilled dry sparkling wine
3 cups (750 ml) chilled orange juice (freshly squeezed is best)
½ cup (120 ml) Grand Marnier or triple sec, optional
Fill 8 champagne flutes ½ full with chilled sparkling wine. Top with orange juice. If you are using, top mimosa with 1 tablespoon of Grand Marnier or triple sec.
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