If you are buying fresh scallops for the first time, you may be surprised to notice the presence of a small orange element attached to the nut. What could this possibly be? Recognizable by its very bright orange color, the one we nickname “coral” of the scallop is actually the genital gland of this mollusk. When we look more closely, we notice that the coral is made up of two very distinct parts: the orange part which corresponds to the female reproductive organ and the white part which coincides with that of the male. The scallop is therefore hermaphrodite. Even if the coral of the scallop is a very important element of the mollusk, is it still eaten?
What is scallop coral and can you eat it?
Keep calm, everything is eaten in the Saint-Jacques. The nut, which is actually the muscle of this seafood, is the piece we consume the most. Yet, coral and beard are eaten and are even very interesting when tasting. Do not throw away the orange part of your scallop, because not only is it edible, but it is also very powerful in taste. Good for our taste buds, it is also excellent for our health, since it is extremely rich in vitamins, trace element and minerals. The beard, this small white part, stuck to the shell, is also eaten. It would even be a shame to skip it, because you could miss out on a memorable culinary discovery! Very powerful in taste, it can be used to spice up a recipe.
Sauces, cream, bisque, whipped cream: how to eat the scallop coral? Our recipe ideas for cooking
Scallops are the perfect food to avoid waste. Each piece can be used, even the shell that you will use as a ramekin for your seafood casserole. In order not to lose a single crumb of this exceptional product, here are some ideas for cook coral and spruce up your holiday recipes.
After trimming your scallop and removing the coral, you can make a delicious sauce which will go wonderfully with nuts or white fish. To prepare it, simply mix the corals with the juice of a lemon. Heat everything with liquid cream. Reduce for a few minutes and it’s already ready! If you prefer a bisque to accompany your dishes, it is entirely possible to do so with corals. Add extra white wine to your sauce.
Bring height to your plates, using scallop corals to make a salty whipped cream. Same principle as for the sauce, simply pass your preparation through a strainer and pour it into a siphon. Reserve in the fridge until ready to serve.
Why do some scallops have no coral?
The vast majority of scallops that we buy come with their coral, but sometimes it happens that there is none. How is it possible ? If you buy scallops at the beginning of October, there is a good chance that they were fished in the bay of Saint-Brieuc and that they do not have any coral. This is because at this time of year, the breeding season is over and so the coral disappears. It is for this reason that the shells from this region are recognized throughout the world.
Read also :
⋙ Cyril Lignac: his roasted scallops with a thousand flavors for a successful holiday menu
⋙ Original Christmas starter: scallops caramelized with miso by Cyril Lignac
⋙ Cyril Lignac’s tip for making a scallop carpaccio