Baked Oysters with Spinach, Fennel Purée, and Crisp Fried Shallots: A Symphony of Flavors
Dive into a culinary masterpiece that tantalizes your taste buds and elevates your dining experience. Our baked oysters are not just any dish; they are an orchestra of flavors, textures, and aromas that will leave you craving for more. Plump and succulent oysters are nestled amidst a bed of sautéed spinach and fennel, their briny essence harmonizing perfectly with the earthy notes of the vegetables. The fennel purée adds a touch of sweetness and anise flavor, while the crisp fried shallots provide a delightful crunch and a burst of savory goodness. Each bite is a journey through a landscape of flavors, textures, and aromas, leaving you with a lingering satisfaction that will keep you coming back for more. So, prepare to embark on a culinary adventure with our baked oysters, spinach, fennel purée, and crisp fried shallots.
EMERIL'S GULFCOAST FISHHOUSE RESTAURANT BAKED OYSTERS
Provided by Food Network
Categories appetizer
Time 25m
Yield 6 first course servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a small bowl combine the butter with the garlic, shallots, and 1 tablespoon of the parsley. Stir to blend thoroughly, and then transfer to the refrigerator while you prepare the oysters.
- Set the oven to the broil setting or preheated to 500 degrees F. Position the top oven rack in the upper third of the oven.
- Season the oysters with salt and pepper. Divide the oysters evenly between 6 individual gratin dishes just large enough to hold the oysters in 1 layer. Shallow gratin dishes approximately 4 by 6 by 1-inch that have a volume capacity of about 8 ounces work well. Sprinkle the crabmeat evenly over the oysters in the ramekins. Using a small spoon, place dabs of the compound butter over the tops of the dishes, dividing the entire amount of butter evenly among the 6 dishes. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top. In a small bowl combine the bread crumbs, grated cheese and olive oil. Sprinkle evenly over the oysters and transfer the gratin dishes to a large baking sheet and place in the oven. Broil until the crumbs are golden brown and the oysters are just cooked through and curled around the edges.
- While the oysters are baking, in a small bowl combine the bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan, and the olive oil. Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Remove the oysters from the oven and sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the tops of the oysters in the dishes. Return to the oven and bake until the crumbs are golden brown and the oysters are just cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes longer.
- Remove the oysters from the oven, garnish with the remaining Parmesan and parsley, and serve immediately, with lemon wedges for guests to use according to taste.
FENNEL SPINACH SAUTE
Spinach and fennel are two of my favorite veggies, so I'm always looking for new ways to use them. This is an amazing side dish, but if you slice the fennel a bit smaller, it also makes a great stuffing for chicken breasts or beef tenderloin. -Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 25m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, heat oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add fennel and onion; cook and stir until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add remaining ingredients; cook and stir just until spinach is wilted, 4-5 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 60 calories, Fat 4g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 5mg cholesterol, Sodium 209mg sodium, Carbohydrate 5g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 2g protein. Diabetic exchanges
CRISPY OVEN-FRIED OYSTERS
These flavorful breaded and baked oysters, served with a zippy jalapeno mayonnaise, were created by Marie Rizzio of Interlochen, Michigan. "I entered this recipe in a seafood contest and took first place in the hors d'oeuvres category," Marie says. "They make an interesting appetizer for entertaining." -Marie Rizzio, Interlochen, Michigan
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 30m
Yield about 2-1/2 dozen (about 2/3 cup jalapeno mayonnaise).
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°. In a shallow bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper. In another shallow bowl, whisk eggs. In a third bowl, combine bread crumbs, cheese, parsley and garlic salt. , Coat oysters with flour mixture, then dip in eggs, and coat with crumb mixture. Place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan; drizzle with oil., Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise ingredients. Serve with oysters.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 75 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 25mg cholesterol, Sodium 146mg sodium, Carbohydrate 6g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 3g protein.
OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories appetizer
Time 1h35m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Moisten the breadcrumbs with a little bit of olive oil.
- Shuck the oysters: There is a top flat "lid" and a bottom cupped shell for each oyster. Insert the tip of an oyster knife into the hinge where the two shells come together in a point. Twist until the lid pops open. Pull the knife out and wipe it clean so you don't get mud in the oyster. Insert the knife back into the oyster from the opposite side of the hinge, lightly scraping against the top shell to disconnect the muscle. Then go under the oyster to cut the muscle on the bottom. Flip the oyster over onto the prettier side.
- Top each oyster with a teaspoon of the creamed spinach, a piece of bacon and a bit of the breadcrumbs. On a baking sheet, create a small mound of coarse salt for each oyster to prevent them from tipping over. Nestle the oysters in the salt mounds, and bake until the bacon is cooked and the breadcrumbs browned.
- Transfer the baked oysters to a serving platter and garnish with a sprinkle of fennel pollen. If desired, garnish with grated horseradish and a drizzle of smoked olive oil. Serve with lemon wedges.
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the spinach. As soon as it's wilted and tender, drain and run under cold water. When the spinach is cool enough to handle, squeeze out any excess water. If you have used whole spinach with long stems, roughly chop it; you should have 1 1/2 cups of chopped spinach.
- Finely mince the fennel and onion. Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat and glaze it with the olive oil. Add the fennel, onion, garlic and a few pinches of salt, and cook until the onion is translucent; you don't want it to brown. Add the flour and stir. When the flour has gathered up all the onion mixture, add the Herbsaint and bring to a boil. Let it reduce by half before stirring in the milk to make a bechamel. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook at a low simmer until the sauce thickens to the point where it coats the back of a spoon, and where drawing your finger down the spoon leaves a clear line.
- Pour half of the bechamel into a blender along with 1/2 cup of the spinach. Blend until completely smooth. Add the remaining spinach to the pan with the remaining bechamel, then add the spinach puree. Heat, stirring, and season with salt and pepper. Finish by stirring in the butter, nutmeg and Parmesan.
BAKED OYSTERS
Ensure that you don'tlose a drop of juice by nestling your shellfish in salt. Fill a shallow ovenproof servingdish with coarse salt or sea salt, and place oysters in it as you shuck them. This willprevent them from tipping as you fill theirshells and while you move them in and out ofthe oven. The salt also provides an attractive crystalline backdrop that retains heat.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Appetizers
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spread salt in a shallow baking dish. Nestle oysters in their bottom shells in the salt.
- In a bowl, combine breadcrumbs, mustard, parsley, and butter; season with pepper. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon mixture on each oyster; top with bacon pieces.
- Bake until oysters curl and topping browns, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.
BAKED OYSTERS WITH SPINACH FENNEL PURéE AND CRISP-FRIED SHALLOTS
Steps:
- In a small skillet heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it fry the shallots, stirring, until they are browned and crisp. Transfer the shallots with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, discarding the oil from the skillet, and sprinkle them with salt to taste. The fried shallots may be made 2 days in advance and kept wrapped in the paper towels at room temperature.
- In a kettle cook the spinach in the water clinging to the leaves with the fennel seeds, covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes, or until it is wilted. In a colander drain the spinach mixture and press out the excess liquid. In a food processor purée the spinach mixture with 2 tablespoons of the butter and salt and pepper to taste and transfer the purée to a small bowl. In the small skillet cook the fennel bulb in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is just tender and stir it into the spinach purée. The spinach fennel purée may be made 1 day in advance and kept, its surface covered with plastic wrap, chilled.
- Arrange the oysters in the reserved shells in a jelly-roll pan filled with some of the coarse salt (to balance the shells), divide the spinach fennel purée among them, and bake the oysters in a preheated 400°F. oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are just cooked through. Top the oysters with the fried shallots, garnish them with the fennel sprigs, and arrange them on a platter filled with more of the coarse salt.
- To shuck oysters:
- Scrub the oysters thoroughly with a stiff brush under running cold water. Hold each oyster flat side up on a work surface with the hinged end away from you, insert an oyster knife between the shells at the hinged end, twisting the knife to pop open the shell, and slide the blade against the flat upper shell to cut the large muscle and free upper shell. If the shell crumbles and cannot be opened at the hinge, insert the knife between the shells at the curved end of the oyster, pry the shells open, and sever the large muscle. Break off and discard the upper shell and slide the knife under the oyster to release it from the bottom shell.
Tips for Making Baked Oysters with Spinach, Fennel Purée, and Crisp Fried Shallots:
- Select fresh, high-quality oysters: Look for oysters that have a briny smell and tightly closed shells. Avoid any oysters with cracked or damaged shells.
- Prepare the oysters properly: Scrub the oyster shells thoroughly with a stiff brush to remove any dirt or debris. Then, carefully shuck the oysters, taking care not to spill any of the oyster liquor.
- Make the spinach and fennel purée: Wilt the spinach and fennel in a pan with a little bit of butter or olive oil. Then, purée the mixture in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.
- Fry the shallots: Slice the shallots thinly and then fry them in hot oil until they are golden brown and crispy. Drain the shallots on paper towels to remove any excess oil.
- Bake the oysters: Place the oysters in a baking dish and top them with the spinach and fennel purée. Then, bake the oysters in a preheated oven until they are cooked through and the purée is bubbly.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the oysters from the oven and garnish them with the fried shallots and chopped parsley. Serve the oysters immediately with lemon wedges.
Conclusion:
Baked oysters with spinach, fennel purée, and crisp fried shallots is a delicious and elegant appetizer that is perfect for any special occasion. This dish is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. For example, you can use different types of oysters, such as Kumamotos or Blue Points. You can also adjust the amount of spinach and fennel in the purée to create a more or less intense flavor. And, if you don't have time to make the fried shallots, you can simply use store-bought crispy onions. No matter how you make it, this dish is sure to impress your guests.
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