Pan Seared Salmon And Scallops With Macadamia-Cilantro Pesto - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted macadamia nut pieces
1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup chopped green onions
3 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 lemon, zested and juiced
3/4 cup macadamia nut oil, or more as needed
Kosher salt to taste
4 tablespoons olive oil
8 (6 ounce) salmon fillets, with skin
16 large (U-10) scallops, tendon removed
kosher salt to taste

Preparation

Prepare macadamia-cilantro pesto by placing macadamia nuts, cilantro, green onion, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and macadamia nut oil into the bowl of a blender. Puree until smooth, adding more oil if needed; season to taste with kosher salt.
Heat two very large skillets over medium-high heat with two tablespoons of oil each until smoking. Season the salmon and scallops to taste with kosher salt. Sear salmon fillets, meat-side down, until golden and crispy, about 5 minutes. Flip over, and cook on the skin-side 5 minutes to desired doneness. Place seared salmon onto serving plates, then sear the scallops until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
To serve, spoon some of the macadamia-cilantro pesto over the salmon, and garnish with two seared scallop pieces.