Scrambles signal, primarily reaching foreign dishes (8)
I believe the answer is:
scurries
'scrambles' is the definition.
('scurry' can be a synonym of 'scramble')
'signal primarily reaching foreign dishes' is the wordplay.
'primarily' says to take the initial letters.
'reaching' says to put letters next to each other.
'foreign dishes' becomes 'curries'.
The initial letter of 'signal' is 's'.
's'+'curries'='SCURRIES'
(Other definitions for scurries that I've seen before include "Moves hurriedly in cruisers" , "runs" , "Scampers" .)