Caramelized Scallops

Ingredients

• 0.1 teaspoon pepper black freshly ground
• 0.1 teaspoon pepper red crushed
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce 
• 1 teaspoon ginger fresh minced
• 1 teaspoon mint leaves fresh chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic fresh minced
• 2 teaspoons juice of lime fresh
• 2  lime wedges 
• 12 ounces sea scallops 
• 3.5 teaspoons sugar divided
• 5 teaspoons water divided

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• sauce pan

Directions

1. Combine 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon water, fish sauce, and next 4 ingredients (through red pepper) in a small bowl.
2. Combine remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and remaining 2 teaspoons water in a small heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until sugar dissolves. Continue cooking 2 minutes or until golden (do not stir).
3. Remove from heat; carefully add fish sauce mixture, stirring constantly. Keep warm.
4. Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray.
5. Sprinkle black pepper over scallops; add scallops to pan. Cook 1 1/2 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.
6. Add sauce; toss well.
7. Sprinkle with mint.
8. Serve with lime.
9. Wide rice noodles and sugar snap peas: Steam 6 ounces sugar snap peas 2 minutes or until crisp-tender; place in bowl.
10. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil to peas; toss well.
11. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds.