JB’s Coquilles Saint-Jacques – RecipeTin Eats
Coquilles Saint-Jacques is a classic French scallop au gratin starter that is beloved by many. It consists of sweet scallops baked in a creamy mushroom Béchamel sauce with a golden cheesy crust on top. This dish is comforting, rich, and perfect for starting a dinner party. It is a dish that is often made for special occasions and holidays in France and can be found on the menus of bistros across the country.
The name «Coquilles Saint-Jacques» simply translates to scallops in French. There are different variations of this dish, with some recipes using a creamy white wine sauce with onions or leeks, while others, like this one, opt for a mushroom Béchamel sauce.
The key ingredients for making Coquilles Saint-Jacques include scallops, mushrooms, butter, flour, milk, cream, nutmeg, panko breadcrumbs, butter, and Gruyère cheese. The scallops can be of varying quality, with the recipe testing well even with more affordable frozen scallops. The mushrooms add depth of flavor to the Béchamel sauce, while the Gruyère cheese creates a deliciously crispy topping.
To make Coquilles Saint-Jacques, the scallops are first prepared by slicing them in half and removing any tough side muscles. The mushroom Béchamel sauce is then made by sautéing mushrooms and eschalot in butter, adding flour, milk, and cream, and seasoning with nutmeg. The scallops are placed in ramekins, covered with the sauce, topped with the cheesy crust mixture, and baked until golden and crispy.
This elegant starter can be made ahead of time and baked just before serving, making it a perfect choice for dinner parties. It is a dish that is sure to impress guests and make them feel like they are dining in a French bistro.
