Julia Child’s Wine Poached Sea Scallops Poached with Fines Herbes
Adapted from Julia Child
1 1/2 teaspoons minced shallots
1/3 cup dry white French vermouth
1/3 cup water
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 dried bay leaf
1 1/2 pounds whole scallops
1 tablespoon each fresh minced parsley, dill, tarragon, and chives (or any combination thereof)
2-3 tablespoons heavy cream
To a large saucepan, add shallots, vermouth, water, salt, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer for 3 minutes. Add the scallops and let simmer 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, just until lightly springy to the touch.
Remove from heat and let cool in the liquid at least 10 minutes, to pick up its flavor. Remove scallops, discard bay leaf, and rapidly boil down until almost syrupy.
Stir in minced herbs, then return scallops to the liquid. Briefly reheat scallops, folding in heavy cream at the end.
Note: Simmering times for quartered sea scallops and bay scallops, 15 to 30 seconds; for calicos, bring just to the simmer.