OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER AND CASINO
A trio of Oysters Rockefeller. Photo by Susan Hoffman on flickr.
RECIPE: Oysters Rockefeller
Makes 12.
Ingredients
12 fresh oysters, shucked, top shell discarded, meat loosened, and resting with their liquor on the bottom shell
1 large or 2 medium scallions, white and light green parts only, chopped
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
1/2 cup fennel, cleaned of fronds, large dice
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature, separated
Handful baby spinach leaves
2 tablespoons unflavored bread or panko crumbs
Several dashes Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 box kosher salt
Directions
In 2 tablespoons of the butter, sauté the scallions, parsley, and fennel until cooked through and nicely softened, about 10 minutes. Add to a processor, along with the remainder of the butter and all the other ingredients except the oysters. Blend until smooth and completely incorporated, scraping down a few times to assure that.
To cook the oysters, heat the oven to 450 degrees and position a rack high and under the broiler element so that the oysters will broil at least 2 inches from the heat. Pour the box of kosher salt into an oven-proof pan or skillet and arrange and embed the oyster halves in the salt. Distribute evenly a dollop of the flavored butter onto each. Turn on the broiling element.
Broil long enough to heat the oysters through, rotating the pan if necessary, to evenly distribute the broiling heat, about 5-6 minutes total. Serve, if possible, on the salt.
Use any shucked oyster to make Oysters Casino, but a “big-bowled” one, such as these will hold more of the tasty toppings in the recipe such as bacon, butter and chopped bell pepper.
RECIPE: Oysters Casino
Makes 12.
Ingredients
12 fresh oysters, shucked, top shell discarded, meat loosened, and resting with their liquor on the bottom shell
3 slices thick-cut bacon
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 large or 2 medium scallions, white and light green parts only, chopped
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, loose
1/4 green bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Directions
Cook to the halfway point the bacon slices (for example, 2 minutes on high power on paper toweling in the microwave); set aside to drain, then cut into 12 diamond-shaped pieces; reserve. Blend the remaining ingredients in a processor until smooth and completely incorporated, scraping down a few times to assure that.
To cook the oysters, heat the oven to 450 degrees and position a rack high and under the broiler element so that the oysters will broil at least 2 inches from the heat. Pour the box of kosher salt into an oven-proof pan or skillet and arrange and embed the oyster halves in the salt. Distribute evenly a dollop of the flavored butter onto each. Turn on the broiling element.
Broil long enough to heat the oysters through, rotating the pan if necessary, to evenly distribute the broiling heat, about 5-6 minutes total. Serve, if possible, on the salt.