Oyster Soup With Wine Cream And Saffron Recipes

OYSTER SOUP

Steps:

• In a heavy 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, bring the heavy cream and oyster liquor from the oysters to a simmer. Remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile, in a large saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the celery and a pinch of the salt and sweat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onion and continue cooking until translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add celery seed, hot pepper sauce, and oysters and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the edges of the oysters start to curl.
• Transfer the oysters to the carafe of a blender and add enough of the cream just to cover.*
• Puree until the mixture is smooth. Return the remaining cream to medium heat, add the pureed mixture, and cook until heated through.
• Just before serving, add the lemon juice, chopped herbs, and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

OYSTER SOUP WITH WINE, CREAM AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Open the oysters over a bowl to collect all the juice. Put the juice in a one-pint measuring jug. Add to this the 1/2 cup dry white wine, then fill to the top with water to make a total of one pint.
• Pour this into a wide pot, bring to the boil. Add the bouillon. Simmer around 30 minutes over low heat.
• While it's cooking, heat the butter in a medium pot, add the frozen matchstick vegetables (typically carrot, green pepper, onion or leek). Cook this about 5 minutes. Salt and pepper the vegetables.
• After the soup broth has cooked 30 minutes, add the matchstick vegetables. Add the cream and the saffron. Blend this all, at a low simmer, and taste for seasoning.
• Add the 12 oysters.
• Cook only 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Serve.

POACHED OYSTERS IN FENNEL-SAFFRON SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add fennel and sauté until golden, about 10 minutes. Add 1 cup water; cover and cook until fennel is very tender, about 20 minutes. Puree fennel mixture in processor. Set aside.
• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and saffron; sauté 1 minute. Add clam juice, cream, and Pernod and bring to simmer. Add fennel puree and bring to simmer. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cold. Cover and keep refrigerated. Simmer before continuing.) Add oysters with their liquor to cream mixture and stir to heat through. Ladle soup into bowls.

CREAMY OYSTER SOUP

Steps:

• Place oysters in a strainer set over a large bowl to catch liquid.
• Combine potatoes and broth in a 5-quart casserole. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap. Cook at 100 percent power in a 650- to 700-watt oven for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• Prick plastic to release steam. Remove from oven and uncover. Add oyster liquid, cream and saffron. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap and cook for 7 minutes.
• Pick plastic to release steam. Remove from oven and uncover. Cut each oyster in half with a kitchen scissors. Add to soup with scallions and salt. Cook, uncovered, for 1 minute.
• Remove from oven and let stand for several minutes. Serve hot