Definition

1. Noun:
   • A dish in the form of a scallop shell: A serving dish, typically made of porcelain, metal, or other materials, that is shaped like the shell of a scallop.
   • Seafood served in a scallop shell: A preparation of food, often seafood like shrimp, scallops, or fish in a creamy sauce, that is baked and served in an actual scallop shell or a dish shaped like one.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The chef presented the gratin in a beautiful porcelain coquille. (The chef presented the gratin in a beautiful porcelain dish shaped like a scallop shell.)
  • For the appetizer, we enjoyed coquilles Saint-Jacques, which are scallops baked in their own shells. (For the appetizer, we enjoyed scallops baked in their own shells.)

Advanced Usage

• "en coquille": A French culinary term meaning "in the shell," used to describe dishes, especially seafood, that are prepared and served in their natural shell or a shell-shaped dish.
  • The mussels were prepared en coquille with a white wine and garlic sauce. (The mussels were prepared in the shell with a white wine and garlic sauce.)

Variants and Related Words

• Coquilles Saint-Jacques (n): A classic French dish of scallops in a creamy sauce, often gratinéed with breadcrumbs or cheese, and traditionally served in a scallop shell.
  • Coquilles Saint-Jacques is a popular dish for holiday meals.

Synonyms

• Shell dish: A dish shaped like or served in a shell.
• Scallop shell: The natural shell of a scallop, often used as a serving vessel.

Noun

1. a dish in the form of a scallop shell
2. seafood served in a scallop shell