Oysters Rockefeller

Recipe by: Christopher Idone | from New Glorious American Food

Cookstr

Course: Appetizer, Hors D'oeuvre

Total Time: Under 2 Hours

Skill Level: Challenging

Cost: Splurge

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The famed oyster creation was invented in 1899 in New Orleans at Antoine’s restaurant and named for the richness of its green sauce. The original version had eighteen ingredients in the sauce and has remained a trade secret to this day. Nonetheless, I maintain a very definite opinion on what the perfect Oysters Rockefeller should be and this is my private formula.

Yield: Makes 36 oysters, 6 to 9 servings

INGREDIENTS

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 shallots, minced
1 bunch scallions, trimmed and minced
½ cup minced fennel bulb
1 bunch watercress, stemmed and coarsely chopped
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons Pernod or Herbsaint (an anise-flavored Southern cordial)
Tabasco sauce to taste
1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
½ cup fresh bread crumbs
1 cup heavy or whipping cream
1 cup grated Swiss cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1½ pounds kosher (coarse) salt
36 fresh oysters on the half-shell

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots, scallions, and fennel; sauté until the vegetables are quite soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the watercress, spinach, and parsley; cook until the watercress is wilted, 2 to 3 minutes longer.

2. Stir in the Pernod, Tabasco, lemon juice, bread crumbs, cream, and ½ cup of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Let the sauce simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors and thicken slightly. Cool to room temperature.

3. Spread a ½-inch layer of the salt on each of 2 baking sheets. Cover each oyster with a generous tablespoon of the green sauce and arrange the oysters securely on top of the salt. Sprinkle a little of the remaining Swiss cheese on top of each. (The oysters may be prepared up to this point and refrigerated for a few hours before cooking.)

4. Preheat the oven to 450°F.

5. Bake the oysters until the cheese and sauce are bubbling, 5 to 8 minute. Serve at once.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Nutritional information is based on 9 servings and 1/8 teaspoon of added salt per serving.

Calories 311kcal (16%)

Calcium 213mg (21%)

Vitamin C 13mg (22%)

Vitamin A 436mcg RAE (15%)

Potassium 323mg

Magnesium 58mg

Protein 9g