INGREDIENTS
- For the Red Chile Adobo
- Scant 1/2 cup good-quality ancho chile powder (the amount you’ll get from a typical 2-ounce spice jar)
- 8 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, preferably Mexican canela
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican oregano
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- For the Scallops
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, olive oil, bacon drippings or fresh-rendered pork lard
- 1 medium onion, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 pound bay scallops
- 1/2 cup red chile adobo
- 2 tablespoons Mexican hot sauce (I like Tamazula here)
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Mexican queso añejo or other garnishing cheese such as Romano or Parmesan OR crema
- A few sprigs cilantro, chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
Make the red chile adobo: Scoop the chile powder into a blender or small food processor. In a medium saucepan, bring 1 ¼ cups water to a boil. Pour the hot water over the chile powder, loosely cover the blender or secure the top of the processor and pulse to create a smooth slurry. Let cool.
Collect the garlic in a microwavable bowl, cover with water and microwave at 100% for 1 minute. Drain and add to the blender or food processor along with the spices, oregano, vinegar and salt. Process to a smooth puree. If necessary, stir in some water, a splash at a time, until the adobo is the consistency of barbecue sauce. Transfer the adobo to a pint jar and store, covered, in the refrigerator, where it will last for a couple of months.
Make the scallops: In a very large (12-inch) heavy skillet set over medium-high, heat the skillet until you see the first wisp of smoke, then add the 2 tablespoons of oil or fat of your choosing. Then add the onions and gently caramelize until they are rich and golden, about 7-8 minutes. Take a slotted spoon and remove the onions from the pan to reserve the oil left in the pan. Lay the onions on a dish and reserve.
Add the scallops in the pan with the reserved oil and sear each side about 2-3 minutes. As the scallops sear, nestle in the reserved onion, turning it as it browns. Once the scallops and onions are combined, add ½ cup of the Quick Red Chile Adobe and the Tamazula hot sauce. If the mixture looks like it needs to be saucier, add a little more water, then taste everything and season it with salt if it needs some.
Scoop into warm tortillas. Garnish with the queso añejo or the crema (or one of its stand-ins) and cilantro.
