Smoked Lemon Risotto with Wild Asparagus & Bacon Wrapped Scallops

This recipe from Hope Blooms uses their Lemon Smoked Caesar dressing to build a creamy, citrusy risotto with a subtle smoky note. Served with local golden-seared, bacon-wrapped scallops and tender asparagus, it’s a dish that leans into savoury flavours, perfect for your next dinner party.

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 tbsp	Butter
1	Shallot, small dice
1	Celery stalk, finely diced
2	Garlic cloves, finely diced
1	Lemon, juice and zest
1	Bottle of Hope Blooms Lemon Smoked Caesar dressing
1 cup	Arborio rice
1/2 cup	Nova Scotia white wine
3-4 cups	Chicken stock
1/2 cup	Parmesan cheese, grated
10 spears	Wild Nova Scotia asparagus, trimmed
2 tbsp	Oil
10 strips	Locally smoked bacon, at room temperature
10	10-20 count local scallops
Nova Scotia sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Micro greens (optional)
Toothpicks

Risotto Directions

1. Place 4 cups of chicken stock in a pot and place on medium high heat.

2. Trim the scallops of the muscle and pat dry.

3. Toss scallops in 1/4 cup Hope Blooms Lemon Smoked Caesar dressing.

4. Cook the bacon until it is brown but still f l exible. Pat dry and set aside.

5. Heat butter in a heavy-bottomed pot, add shallots, celery, garlic and lemon zest, sauté until translucent. Add the rice, and 1/4 cup Hope Blooms Lemon Smoked Caesar dressing, stir to coat each grain, deglaze with white wine.

6. Once the wine is absorbed, start adding the hot chicken stock, one ladle at a time. Stir continuously as each ladle is absorbed. Continue adding stock until the rice becomes tender and cooked through. Remove from heat, stir in Parmesan cheese and season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Bacon Wrapped Scallop & Vegetable Directions

1. Heat a skillet over medium, add 2 tbsp of oil. Add the scallops and sear each side until lightly golden.

2. Wrap one piece of bacon around one scallop and secure with a toothpick. You will need to trim each piece of bacon once it is wrapped.

3. Return the bacon wrapped scallops to the pan and sear the bacon until golden brown. Remove from the pan and place on a plate. Sprinkle with sea salt.

4. In the same pan, add 1 tbsp Hope Blooms Lemon Smoked Caesar dressing and the asparagus, cook for 2-3 minutes, until tender. Season with sea salt and fresh pepper.

5. Spoon the risotto into a shallow bowl, add the asparagus and bacon wrapped scallops. Sprinkle with sea salt, garnish with micro greens and a drizzle of Hope Blooms Lemon Smoked Caesar dressing.