Going ‘HAM’ with Bacon
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
As a kid, I thought bacon was overrated by the way it was portrayed in the Denny’s or IHOP commercial. In Vietnamese food, the bacon is boiled to be put in spring rolls. BUT by the time I discovered crispy bacon during my brunch at Venus (in Berkeley), I was hooked.
Scallops, on the other hand, were a regular staple in Vietnamese hot pot and stir fry dishes.
Seeing this combination on either a magazine or cooking show, I was intrigued to try. Instantly it became a favorite. I’m sitting here drooling as I write about it! The saltiness and crisp of the baked bacon perfectly complement the scallops.
If you’re having folks over, you all can work together to wrap the scallops. The process will move quickly and you’ll have snacks in minutes! Or make it a meal and add this on top of your salad, pasta, or rice dish.
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
serves 4 : 2 pieces each
8 medium sized scallops, washed and patted dried
4 strips of bacon, cut in half
seasoning of your choice - Trader Joe's 21 Salute is highly recommended
S&P
Preheat the oven to 350 F
Season the scallops.
Cover the circumference of each scallop with a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick, piercing all the way through the scallop.
Place on greased baking and bake for 15 minutes.
Serve as appetizers over a bed of greens.
I noticed that the bacon did not brown up nicely as I would have liked. I wonder if pre cooking the bacon might help. I did broil after the 15 minutes in hopes that I could catch some brown, but the scallops were drying out, so don’t do that!
I'll experiment again to find the ideal method for catching a nice golden color on the bacon strips. If you have any tips on how I can get that golden brown, do let me know!