OYSTER, EGGPLANT, AND TASSO GRATIN

Oyster, Eggplant, and Tasso Gratin image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for baking dishes
1 pint shucked oysters in their liquor
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup homemade or low-sodium store-bought chicken broth or milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Hot sauce
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium to large eggplant, peeled and chopped (about 2 cups)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 ounces finely chopped tasso (about 3 tablespoons)
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
Cheesy Breadcrumb Topping

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 4 individual shallow baking dishes.
Drain oysters into a large bowl, reserving liquor. Check oysters for any pieces of shell and discard. Strain liquor through a fine mesh sieve; set aside.
Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Whisk in flour, then add reserved oyster liquor and broth or milk. Bring mixture to a boil, whisking constantly. Whisk in cream and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt, pepper, hot sauce, and nutmeg. Remove mixture from heat; cover sauce to keep warm.
Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add eggplant and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add onion, tasso, and garlic; stir in sage and rosemary. Cook until eggplant is tender and cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper; transfer mixture to a colander; let stand to drain excess oil, about 5 minutes.
Spread mixture evenly in baking dishes; top with an even layer of oysters. Drizzle with sauce and sprinkle over breadcrumb topping. Transfer to oven and bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.