Coquilles St. Jacquas (Scallops)

 

Experience the delight of Coquilles Saint Jacques, a French classic!  Succulent shrimp and tender scallops are baked in a creamy sauce atop fluffy mashed potatoes, all crowned with melted cheese. This dish, meaning "shell of St. James," honors the legend connecting scallop shells to St. James himself. Dive into this culinary treasure!

 Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Boil salted water and cook the potatoes until they're tender. Drain them well.

Mash with butter, then blend in milk and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Transfer the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.

Preheat your oven to 350°F, ensuring the rack is in the center position!

Filling

Ingredients:

2 Lbs of Peeled potatoes cubed

5 cups of water

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

½ cup diced shallots

½ pound white button mushrooms, sliced

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 cup white wine

1 pound sea scallops

½ cup heavy whipping cream

1 egg yolk

2 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

4 large oven-safe scallop shells

¼ cup shredded Gruyere cheese

1 pinch paprika

8 fresh tarragon leaves

Directions:

In a saucepan, melt butter and sauté shallots or onions with garlic until tender. 

Stir in flour for a minute, then whisk in milk and wine, bringing to a boil. After removing it from heat, season with salt and pepper. 

Mix in scallops, shrimp, and ½ cup cheese before filling scallop shells or ramekins. Top with mashed potatoes and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top!

Bake for 10 minutes.

Finish under the broiler until the cheese and potatoes are golden brown.

Alternatively, these can be baked in an Air Fryer at 325°F for about 5 minutes until golden brown.

Top with shredded parmesan cheese and serve!

 

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts from Phoenix University in Business Management, then a degree. Mass Communication and Cyber Analysis from Phoenix University, then on to Walden University for her master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology. Her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist in her spare time, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, Gouche, and pastels. As a political operative having worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 7 blogs that range from art to life coaching, to food, to writing, Gardening, and opinion or history pieces each week. 

French Fare, Potpourri of Frugality. Kilbride