Best Sydney Rock Oyster Pasty Recipes

OYSTER PATTIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the bread flour, cake flour, sugar, and salt. Toss the chunks of butter into the flour and make sure each piece is coated with it. Combine the vinegar with 1 cup cold water and stir into the flour mixture while lightly tossing the ingredients to moisten them evenly. Gather the dough into a ball.
• On a lightly floured surface, pat and roll the dough into a neat rectangle that's about 1/2 inch thick. Fold the dough into thirds like a business letter, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Unwrap the dough and place it on a floured work surface with the folded side towards you. Roll the folded dough into a rectangle and again fold the dough into thirds. Repeat this process two times. The dough will be slightly marbled-looking with streaks of butter running through it. Wrap the dough in plastic and let it chill for 1 hour.
• Unwrap the dough and place it on a floured work surface. Roll it out to a 1/4-inch thickness and cut it into 4-inch squares with a sharp knife. Place the squares 3 inches apart on a baking sheet and chill for 1 hour.
• Heat the oven to 400°F.
• Bake the pastries for 10 minutes or until puffed and golden. Remove the pastries to a cooling rack.
• In a medium skillet set over medium heat, melt the butter. Sprinkle the flour over the butter and whisk to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes or until the roux is lightly golden. Add the shallots, celery, and garlic and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the oyster liquor and the clam juice to the roux, along with the bay leaf, thyme, salt, and cayenne pepper, and cook, stirring, until the mixture thickens, about 4 minutes. Add the heavy cream, sherry, and parsley and cook for 3 minutes or until very thick. Add the oysters and cook, stirring, just until the edges begin to curl, 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the bay leaf.
• To serve, make an indentation in the center of each pastry square using the back of a spoon. Spoon the oyster filling into the center of each pastry. Serve at once.
• If you are a hostess pressed for time, pick up frozen puff pastry shells at the grocer.
• The vinegar helps make the pastry more tender.
• The pastry cases can be made 1 day in advance or frozen unbaked for 1 month.
• If you like, cut 3-inch rounds of dough and top each round with a circle with the center cut out (like a doughnut) and bake to form more elegant patty shells (or you can just buy some frozen ones).

CORNISH PASTIES

Steps:

• For the pastry: Sift the flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt into a mixing bowl and add the butter and lard. Using your fingers, 2 knives, or a pastry blender, cut the butter and lard into the dry ingredients until mixture resembles fine crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk and water together and add to the flour mixture. Mix quickly, but thoroughly, until mixture just comes together to form a dough. Knead briefly until pastry is smooth with no cracks; the trick to making this delicate pastry easy to work with is kneading it just enough so that it can be rolled out and manipulated without breaking but yet retains its lovely crumbly texture. Press into a flattened disk shape and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight before proceeding.
• Remove the pastry from the refrigerator and unwrap. Allow to soften slightly, then place on a lightly floured work surface and roll the pastry to a thickness of 1/4-inch. Using a small plate or saucer as a guide, cut out 6 (6-inch) rounds. (Scraps may be combined and reformed if you cannot get 6 rounds out of the first batch.) Stack the pastry rounds onto pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper (with pieces between each round to keep them from sticking together) and refrigerate while you prepare the filling.
• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove the pastry circles from the refrigerator. In a mixing bowl, combine the meat, onion, carrot, potato, salt and pepper and mix until thoroughly combined. Place the pastry circles on a clean work surface and place about 1/2 cup of the filling in the center of 1 side of the pastry. Using the beaten egg, brush the edges of the pastry and then bring the unfilled side over the filled side so that edges meet. Press edges together to seal and then crimp using your fingers or a fork. Repeat with the remaining turnovers and then transfer to a baking sheet. Brush the tops of the turnovers with the remaining egg and then cut several slits into the top of each pastry. Bake for 20 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown around the edges. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue to bake until the pasties are golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

OYSTER ROCKS AT THE RIB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a small bowl combine the spinach, onion, Parmesan, butter, wine, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Shuck the oysters and leave them on the half shell. Top with a heaping tablespoon of the spinach mixture and arrange them on a baking sheet. Bake for approximately 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and top each with a slice of tomato and cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese melts.
• Transfer the oysters to a serving platter and serve with a wedge of lemon and good hot sauce. Enjoy!