Sesame Crusted Scallops with Quinoa Salad

We're trying to eat healthier and found a bag of organic Quinoa in the pantry. You can only imagine how long that bag has been in there to be forgotten. Quinoa has been referred to as The Supergrain of the Future! I have to admit, it has a nice ring to it. I don't know how foods even begin to qualify as a "super food" but being a nutrient rich, antioxidant rich, and anti inflammatory packed grain, there is no question this is one of them. You never really start paying attention to what you're fueling your body with until the knickknacks start creeping up on you. "Everything in moderation" starts to take on a whole new meaning. It literally means cut the bad stuff to an absolute minimum and start packing in the high fiber, nutrient dense, unprocessed foods... for the rest of your life because you aren't getting any younger. Healthy food does not have to be boring. It's not necessary to have a pantry filled with exotic and expensive ingredients to liven things up in the dishes you make.

Sesame Crusted Scallops with Quinoa Salad

Sesame Crusted Scallops with Quinoa Salad 

3 cups cooked Quinoa
1 cucumber small diced
2 Roma tomatoes seeded and small diced
3 shallots or 1 small onion small diced
1 cup Craisins
juice of 2 limes and zest of 1
5 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

10 large scallops
1/4 cup black sesame seeds
1/4 cup white sesame seeds
salt and pepper
(sesame seeds are optional. you can go ahead and sear them off with salt and pepper.)

Ginger Soy dressing (optional but make a batch and keep it in the fridge for Asian inspired dishes)

2 cups soy sauce
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1 cup sesame oil
8 cups salad oil
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 cup minced ginger
2 tbsp black and white sesame seeds
(whisk everything together until sugar is dissolved)

Mix all the ingredients together for the Quinoa Salad and keep in the fridge for at least an hour so all the flavors is absorbed in the Quinoa.

Dust the top and bottom of the scallops with the sesame seeds and sear them off on high heat. Each side should only take less than two minutes. Make sure not to overcook them.

Before serving, dress the scallops with the dressing. Enjoy!

The Quinoa Salad is an excellent base for your future summer dishes. Grilled shrimp and chicken would go great with it. Best of all, the salad alone is quite satisfying.