Best 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.

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.