Oysters Rockefeller

Oysters are for lovers and Oysters Rockefeller is a recipe for romance for an intimate Valentine’s Day Dinner!  These little jewels are a delicious and nutritious way to enjoy nature’s bounty and a sweet way to say I love you!

Did you know that Oysters Rockefeller was created at Antoine’s Restaurant in New Orleans in 1899, as a substitute for escargot? The story goes that the dish was so rich, that it was named after John D. Rockefeller, who was at the time one of the world’s richest men.

The most important component of this delectable dish is fresh briny oysters! And, I am very fortunate to have a friend, Deborah Keller, aka OysterMom, who actually farms and raises oysters in Oyster Bay in Wakulla County. With the help of her family and friends, Oyster Mom grows and nurtures her oysters in baskets, which protect them from predators and allow them to be suspended in the nutrient-rich waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Oysters are natural “ecosystem engineers” for they maintain or improve water quality and clarity, and cycle nutrients throughout the water where they are found. They also assume the characteristic taste and flavor of the surrounding water, the “merroir.” To find out more about OysterMom and her delicious oysters, check out her Facebook Book page.

To make delicious Oysters Rockefeller you will need: 2 dozen shucked oysters and shells, butter, garlic, bread crumbs, shallots, chopped fresh spinach, *Pernod, red pepper sauce, olive oil, parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, kosher salt and pepper and rock or ice cream salt.

I was lucky and OysterMom’s sweet husband Jack shucked our oysters. If you don’t know how to open and clean them, I would recommend that you go to a seafood market and ask them to shuck them for you. This part can be messy, especially if you don’t know what you are doing.

Are you ready to get started? If so, preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

Prepare your baking pan or dish by covering it with a thick layer of rock salt. Arrange your oyster shells in the salt to steady them. (If you don’t have rock salt, you can use a muffin pan or Madeline pan to hold the oysters. The object is to hold them steady while they are baking.)

First, melt 4 Tbsp of butter in a large skillet over medium low heat and sauté the garlic for 2 minutes. Watch the garlic carefully and don’t let it get brown or burn.

Place the breadcrumbs in a small bowl and add half of the garlic butter. Mix well. Set aside.

Add the minced shallot, and chopped spinach and parsley to the remaining garlic butter in the skillet and sauté for about 3 minutes, or until the spinach wilts.

Deglaze the pan with *Pernod. Pernod is an anise-flavored liqueur. If you have some great, but if not, you can use vermouth or a sweet wine. Add a dash of red pepper sauce and season with salt and pepper. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.

To the breadcrumb mixture add olive oil, and Parmesan cheese and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Top each oyster with 1-2 heaping teaspoons of the spinach mixture, followed by a spoonful of the breadcrumb mixture.

Bake, the oysters for 10-15 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs, are golden brown.

Serve on the rock salt, with lemon wedges.

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Oysters Rockefeller

Oysters are for lovers and delicious Oysters Rockefeller is a recipe for romance for an intimate Valentine's Day Dinner! These little jewels are a nutritious way to enjoy nature's bounty!

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Course

Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine

American, Southern

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

20 minutes

Servings

24 oysters MetricUS Imperial

Ingredients

• 24 oysters shucked and on the half shell
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 1 shallot minced
• 2 cups fresh spinach stems removed and chopped
• 1/4 cup parsley chopped
• 1/4 cup Pernod you can substitute vermouth or a sweet wine
• Kosher salt and pepper to taste
• Dash red pepper sauce
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated

Course Appetizer, Main Dish Cuisine American, Southern Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 20 minutes Servings 24 oysters MetricUS Imperial Ingredients 24 oysters shucked and on the half shell 4 Tbsp unsalted butter 2 garlic cloves minced 1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs 1 shallot minced 2 cups fresh spinach stems removed and chopped 1/4 cup parsley chopped 1/4 cup Pernod you can substitute vermouth or a sweet wine Kosher salt and pepper to taste Dash red pepper sauce 2 Tbsp olive oil 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated

Votes: 1 Rating: 5 You: Rate this recipe! Add to Shopping List This recipe is in your Shopping List

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
2. Prepare your baking pan or dish by covering it with a thick layer of rock salt. Arrange your oyster shells in the salt to steady them. (If you don't have rock salt, you can use a muffin pan or Madeline pan to hold the oysters. The object is to hold them steady while they are baking.)
3. First, melt 4 Tbsp of butter in a large skillet over medium low heat and sauté the garlic for 2 minutes. Watch the garlic carefully and don't let it get brown or burn.
4. Place the breadcrumbs in a small bowl and add half of the garlic butter. Mix well. Set aside.
5. Add the minced shallots, chopped spinach and parsley to the remaining garlic butter in the skillet and sauté for about 3 minutes, or until the spinach wilts.
6. Deglaze the pan with *Pernod. Pernod is an anise-flavored liqueur. If you have some great, but if not, you can use vermouth or a sweet wine. Add a dash of red pepper sauce and season with salt and pepper. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
7. To the breadcrumb mixture add olive oil, and Parmesan cheese and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
8. Top each oyster with 1-2 heaping teaspoons of the spinach mixture, followed by a spoonful of the breadcrumb mixture.
9. Bake the oysters for 10-15 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
10. Serve on the rock salt, with lemon wedges.

Recipe Notes

Nutrition Facts

Oysters Rockefeller

Amount Per Serving

Calories 144 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 6g 9%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 73mg 24%

Sodium 346mg 14%

Potassium 321mg 9%

Total Carbohydrates 9g 3%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 0.3g

Protein 11g 22%

Vitamin A 39%

Vitamin C 19%

Calcium 15%

Iron 51%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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