Cornmeal battered oysters on the half shell
8 Servings
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient | |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Oysters; shucked (reserve half of the shells) | |
| 1 | cup | Milk |
| 2 | cups | Cornmeal |
| 1 | teaspoon | Salt |
| ¼ | teaspoon | Cayenne |
| 3 | tablespoons | Unsalted butter |
| ⅔ | cup | Onion; julienned |
| ⅔ | cup | Celery; julienned |
| ⅔ | cup | Carrot; julienned |
| Salt and pepper | ||
| 14 | cups | Vegetable oil for deepfrying |
| Tartar sauce | ||
| 3 | Sweet gherkins; finely chopped | |
| 2 | Shallots; finely chopped | |
| Yolk of 1 hardboiled egg; sieved or finely chopped | ||
| 1 | tablespoon | Capers; finely chopped |
| 2 | tablespoons | Fresh parsley leaves; finely chopped |
| 2 | tablespoons | Grated onion |
| 1 | tablespoon | Fresh tarragon; finely chopped -or- |
| 1 | teaspoon | Dried; crumbled |
| 1 | tablespoon | Fresh chervil; finely chopped -or- |
| 1 | teaspoon | Dried; crumbled |
| 1½ | teaspoon | Dijon mustard |
| ½ | teaspoon | Grated lemon peel |
| Salt and pepper | ||
| 1½ | cup | Homemade or prepared mayonnaise |
Directions
Combine cornmeal, salt and cayenne in a shallow bowl.
Dip oysters in milk then dredge in cornmeal mixture. Arrange oysters on a baking sheet or tray and chill 30 minutes.
Melt butter in a saucepan over mediumlow heat. Add onions, celery and carrots and cook, covered, until softened, about 5 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a deepfat fryer or large, heavy pot to 365 degrees. Add oysters, in batches, and fry 40 seconds until golden brown. Scoop up with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Arrange cleaned oyster shells on serving platter. Fill each shell with 1 teaspoon of vegetable mixture. Top with oysters and a spoonful of tartar sauce.
Yield: 8 servings
Tartar sauce: Fold gherkins, shallots, egg yolk, capers, parsley, onion, tarragon, chervil, mustard and lemon zest into mayonnaise; season to taste with salt and pepper.
Yield: about 2 cups
Notes: Thanksgiving Special with Drew Nieporent Recipe by: TVFN Show #TGSP94
Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #921 by Sue <suechef@...> on Nov 23, 1997