Catholic Recipe: Coquilles Saint-Jacques II

Also Called: Coquilles St. Jacques; Coquilles Sainte-Jacques; Scallops or Cockles in the Shell

Scallops in a creamy wine sauce, topped with bread crumbs or cheese and browned under a broiler, served in scalloped pastry shells. This classic is a wonderful dish at any time of the year, but since they are named after St. James, this is an appropriate dish to serve on July 25.

DIRECTIONS

Defrost scallops, if frozen. Combine wine, onion, bay leaf, parsley, and salt in saucepan; bring to boil; add scallops; simmer 10 minutes. Add mushrooms with their broth to saucepan. Add 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine and the lemon juice; simmer just until butter melts. Drain scallops and mushrooms, saving liquid. Slice scallops thin. Remove bay leaf. Measure liquid. Add enough water to make 2 cups. Melt remaining butter or margarine; blend in flour; add scallop liquid and light cream or milk; cook and stir over low heat until thickened and smooth. Add cheese; stir until cheese melts. Add pepper. Stir in scallops and mushrooms. Fill scallop shells or shallow ramekins; sprinkle with buttered crumbs; place on baking sheet; brown lightly under broiler.