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Velvety Scallop Bisque with Kale

Seafood alternatives: shrimp, crawfish, oysters

Brimming with leeks, potatoes and scallops, this warming soup is a great winter way to savor scallops. Forest green kale is a pretty contrast to the creamy whiteness of the bisque. Serve with crusty garlic sourdough.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium-size leeks, white parts only
• 3/4 pound scallops
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup minced celery
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
• 3 1/2 cups 2% milk or whole milk
• 2 cups finely diced red-skin potatoes, skin on (1 large potato)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Pinch cayenne pepper
• 1/4 to 1/2 pound fresh kale, spinach or escarole
• 1 cup whole milk or half-and-half
• 3 tablespoons medium-sweet sherry
• Salt and Pepper
• Paprika

Cooking Instructions:

Clean and thinly slice leeks (you'll have 1 1/2 to 2 cups). Rinse scallops and pat dry. If using sea scallops, remove and discard the opaque, tough muscle on the side of each scallop than slice crosswise into three medallions. Reserve scallops.

In a 10 to 12-inch frying pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add leeks, celery and garlic and cook, stirring, until leek is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the 3 1/2 cups milk, potatoes, Worcestershire sauce, salt and cayenne. Bring bisque just to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer, sitrring occasionally, until potatoes are tender when pierced, about 10 minutes.

While bisque is cooking, wash kale, cut out tough ribs and cut greens crosswise into 1/2-inch wide strips. Steam until wilted, 5 to 6 minutes; reserve.

Stir scallops and remaining milk or cream into potato mixture. Simmer until scallops are almost opaque in center (cut to test), 1 to 2 minutes. Do not overcook. Scallops will continue to cook as the soup stands. Stir in sherry. Add salt and pepper to taste.

To serve, divide kale among 4 soup bowls. Ladle soup on top and sprinkle with paprika.

Makes 4 servings.

Per serving; 401 cal./27 g prot./47 g carbo./4 g sat./4 g mono./.9 g poly./.2 g om-3/52 mg. Chol./847 mg sdm.