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Chilled Avocado Soup with Scallops

Avocado gives this dairy-free soup its creamy texture. For a super-sophisticated presentation, serve it in chilled martini glasses and garnish each one with a drizzle of Mexican crema or crème fraîche. If you prefer a soup with a thinner consistency, add water until it’s exactly the way you like it.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup diced white onion
1 serrano chile, stemmed, seeded, and diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
Salt
4 firm but ripe avocados, halved, pitted, and peeled
2 cups chicken broth
5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Freshly ground black pepper
6 to 8 jumbo scallops
1/2 cup Mexican crema (see page 70) or crème fraîche, whisked to soften

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and serrano chile and sauté for 10 minutes, or until tender. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Season with salt. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

    Step 2

    Put the avocados in a blender. Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, cilantro, and onion mixture. Puree until smooth. Blend in 2 cups water. Strain the soup into a large bowl, and season it to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, about 3 hours.

    Step 3

    Sprinkle the scallops all over with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, sear the scallops for 1 minute per side, or until just cooked through.

    Step 4

    Pour the chilled soup into individual bowls. Top each serving with a scallop, and drizzle with the crema.

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