Prep time:

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Total time:

Serves:

6 Fresh Scallops – we sourced our scallops from Sankeys Fishmongers in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge

200g Frozen Peas

1 Small Onion or Large Echalion Shallot finely chopped

Squeeze of Lemon

Dash of Olive Oil

10g Butter, cut into two knobs

5 Strips on Pancetta

Friends, mums and self-taught home cooks Mandy Simmonds and Anna Stanford share their family-friendly recipes on Instagram – here is their take on a romantic Valentine’s dinner

  1. Sauté the shallot or onion until soft in a dash of oil and a knob of butter.
  2. Add the peas and cook for 4 minutes. Season and add to a blender or bullet. Set aside somewhere warm.
  3. Add the pancetta to a hot pan and crisp on both sides. Set aside.
  4. Get a large frying pan hot and add a splash of oil. Season the scallops and add them to the pan in a clockwise circle so you know where to start turning first – you don’t want to overcook them.
  5. Cook the scallops for one minute on each side. Add the other knob of butter and the lemon juice. Coat the scallops quickly and remove from the pan.
  6. Put three spoonfuls of pea purée onto each plate, top each pea mound with a scallop and serve with a crisp of pancetta.

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether
  • styling: Mandy Simmonds & Anna Stanford

You may also like

Lamb tagine

This is the perfect recipe for entertaining, batch cooking or freezing ahead for Christmas. It’s best made a day or two before, or you can cook low and slow in the morning. This is lovely served with my giant cous...

Giant cous cous with roasted winter vegetables & pomegranate molasses dressing

This goes so well with the tagine or stands alone as a delicious salad. You can make all the elements the day before and refrigerate. Then mix up on the day (you will need to break the couscous up a...

Smoked Mackerel Pâté

Here is an irresistible, light canapé recipe – a lovely starter or gorgeous for a buffet! This is a tasty pâté or dip to enjoy that takes 5 mins to whip up and is packed full of delicious flavours, and...