Scallops Venetian Style

An Italian Christmas always has plenty of seafood (the feast of seven fishes) and this is a classic Venetian style scallop dish. It's ridiculously easy using ingredients that you probably have in your pantry and yet these look spectacular served on the shell. They take just 5 minutes to grill too so they can be made just before serving.

Scallops Venetian Style (Capesante Gratinate)

An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 5-8 minutes

Makes 12 scallops

• 12 scallops on the shell
• 1/2 cup/45g/1.6ozs toasted fine breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup/125ml/4flozs extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
• Small handful of parsley leaves

Step 1 - Finely chop the garlic and parsley together and mix with the breadcrumbs and oil. Take the scallops and with a sharp knife slice underneath them to remove them from the shell. Top with the breadcrumb mixture dividing it evenly among the scallops.

Step 2 - Place the scallops on a baking tray and preheat the grill to medium high. Grill for 5 minutes or bake at 180C/350 for 8 minutes and serve with lemon.