Cornmeal Fried Oysters With Mustard Sauce Recipes

FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• For the Tartar Sauce: Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer to 350°F, in a deep cast iron skillet, or in a Dutch oven over medium heat to a depth of about 2-3 inches, until it reaches 350°F. If you don't have a deep-fry thermometer, sprinkle a few drops of water on the hot oil. If it sizzles, the oil is hot enough.
• Drain the oysters in a colander and pat dry with paper towels. Use a toothpick to poke a small hole in the large round part of each oyster.
• Put the buttermilk in a shallow dish. In a separate shallow dish, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, Old Bay seasoning and pepper.
• Add the oysters to the buttermilk and soak for a few minutes. Remove the oysters from the buttermilk, gently shake off excess liquid, and dredge in cornmeal mixture to coat on all sides. Shake off excess breading and transfer to a wire rack.
• Working in batches so that you don't overcrowd the pan, fry oysters until golden and crispy, about 2-3 minutes. Drain on paper towels, season with additional salt and pepper (if necessary) while they're still warm, and serve hot with tartar sauce or other dipping sauce.

BEST SOUTHERN CRISPY FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• While the oil heats, pour the oysters into a colander or strainer and let them drain. Then, rinse with fresh water to wash off any debris or shell fragments.
• Pour the buttermilk into a medium-sized bowl and dunk the drained oysters.
• Place the cornmeal, flour, creole seasoning, and salt in a shallow bowl or pie plate and whisk to combine.
• Remove the oysters from the buttermilk one at a time and dredge them in the cornmeal mixture. Toss gently and make sure they are well coated, then shake any excess breading off.
• Place the coated oysters on a metal cooling rack until all of them have been coated. Letting them sit for a few minutes helps to fuse the breading and buttermilk and keeps the breading from falling off when they are fried.
• Place a large stockpot, Dutch oven, or cast iron skillet with high sides over medium-high heat and add one to two inches of oil.
• Use a candy or deep-fry thermometer to test the oil temperature, and when it reaches 370 °F, carefully add the oysters, one at a time to fry. Depending on the size of your pan, it works best to fry in batches and only cook six to eight at a time. You do not want to crowd them. (Maintain a consistent heat of 370 °F by increasing or decreasing the heat under the pan.)
• Let the oysters fry for about two to three minutes, stirring occasionally or until the breading is light golden brown and the meat is opaque with the edges slightly curled. Use a wire kitchen spider or slotted spoon to remove them from the oil. Place on a paper towel or wire cooling rack to drain.
• Repeat until all of the oysters are fried and serve immediately. Optional, garnish with fresh lemon or lime slices and serve with your choice of sauce and sides.

CORNMEAL-FRIED OYSTERS WITH MUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• The oysters may be shucked at home or by the fish dealer, reserving the liquor. If there is less than a cup of liquor, add enough clam broth to make a cup.
• Combine the shallots, vinegar, garlic, oyster liquor and wine in a saucepan. Bring to the boil and cook 45 minutes or more, until the liquid is reduced to about a third of a cup. Add the cream. Bring to the simmer and cook about 20 minutes, until reduced to one cup.
• Stir in the mustard and bring to the simmer. Add the butter in small pieces, stirring rapidly with a wire whisk. Line a bowl with a sieve, preferably of the sort known in French kitchens as a chinois. Strain the sauce, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much flavor as possible from the solids. There should be about one cup of strained sauce. Set the saucepan in a bowl of simmering water to keep it hot.
• Blend the cornmeal, salt, pepper, paprika and chili powder in a shallow dish. Dredge each oyster in the mixture and shake off the excess.
• Heat the oil in a skillet and add the oysters without crowding. Cook, turning the oysters, one to two minutes depending on the size of the oysters. Do not overcook. As they are cooked, transfer the oysters to paper towels to drain.
• Divide the spinach with pancetta among four plates. Spoon the sauce to one side of the spinach and arrange four cooked oysters on the sauce.