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capellini with scallops

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For a short while a number of years ago, there was a beautiful, modern, small trattoria-style restaurant in Chicago called George's. During their life-span, they were always able to produce perfectly done angel's hair pasta, not an easy restaurant feat, with scallops.

We always loved their scallop presentation. Here is a scallop dish that always reminds us of George's perfection

for the sauce:

four tablespoons butter
two tablespoons olive oil
three cloves of garlic, peeled and diced
one pound fresh bay scallops
three tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
two tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
pinch of red pepper flakes
two tablespoons lemon juice
salt and freshly ground pepper

for the pasta:

one pound spaghettini or capellini (angel's hair pasta)

If you are using bay scallops, cut them in half. If sea scallops cut them in quarters. Rinse the scallops in cold water and dry.

In a saute pan over medium heat, add the olive oil and three tablespoons of butter. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for fifteen seconds until the garlic starts to sizzle. Add the parsley and oregano and cook for another fifteen seconds.

Over a medium high heat, add the scallops and cook until they just become solid milky-white. The challenge in cooking scallops is to get them just done; too much cooking and they become tougher.

Add a teaspoon of salt and freshly ground pepper.

Bring 4-5 quarts of cold water to a heavy boil. Add a couple tablespoons of salt. Add the pasta, stirring it well to get it separated and mixed. Cook just barely al dente. Then drain.

>>Note: cooking spaghettini and capellini requires very careful watching. Do not let it get overly done. It cooks fast: be on your toes.

Add the pasta to the sauce, add the lemon juice and the final tablespoon of butter. Stir well. Taste for salt and pepper. Serve.