BAKED OYSTERS WITH TASSO CREAM

Baked Oysters with Tasso Cream image

I love nothing more than a cold beer and a shucked oyster, so when my partners and I opened Saw's Juke Joint in Birmingham, Alabama, we wanted to add them to the menu. We love making them, we love serving them and our guests love eating them. -Taylor Hicks, Las Vegas, Nevada

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h10m

Yield 1 dozen (1-1/2 cups sauce).

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

4 slices white bread
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
3 ounces tasso ham or fully cooked chorizo, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
2 tablespoons chopped sweet onion
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 to 2 dashes Louisiana-style hot sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
1 dozen fresh oysters in the shell, scrubbed

Steps:

Preheat oven to 300°. Place bread on an ungreased baking sheet; bake 8-10 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Break bread into smaller pieces; place in a food processor. Pulse until coarse crumbs form. Transfer to a small bowl. Add melted butter, salt and pepper; toss to combine., In a large skillet, cook ham over medium heat until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until tender. Stir in cream. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half, stirring occasionally. Add hot sauce; season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm., Increase oven setting to 350°. Shuck oysters, leaving oysters in the half-shell. Arrange on a rack in a shallow baking pan; sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake 8-10 minutes or until topping is golden brown and oysters are plump. Top with sauce just before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 236 calories, Fat 22g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 79mg cholesterol, Sodium 229mg sodium, Carbohydrate 6g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 5g protein.