Curry Smoked Oysters Recipes

GREEN CURRY FRIED CHICKEN WITH SMOKED OYSTER AIOLI

Steps:

• For the marinade: Toast the mustard seeds, coriander seeds, grains of paradise, black peppercorns, pink peppercorns, green peppercorns, fennel seeds, mace, cinnamon, cloves and star anise in a dry skillet until fragrant, being careful to not burn. Blend the toasted spices in a spice grinder. In a blender or food processor, blend the spices, onions, ginger, spinach, cilantro, garlic, tamari, salt and chiles until smooth. Add the grapeseed oil and blend until emulsified.
• Marinate the chicken in the green curry for 1 hour.
• Add the buttermilk and marinade for 1 more hour.
• For the aioli: Shuck the oysters carefully, reserving their liquor. Strain the liquor through a coffee filter. Use the strained liquor to rinse the oysters and remove any sediment or bits of shell. Strain the liquor one more time, and pour over the cleaned oysters.
• Place the eggs, garlic and oysters into a tall, round container. Add a quarter of the oil and, using an immersion blender, blend until emulsified. Then slowly add the remaining oil while continuously blending to maintain the emulsion and blend until smooth. Transfer the aioli to a wide storage container and cover with plastic wrap to ensure the container will trap the smoke. Place the container over an ice bath. Use a food smoker with the applewood and alfalfa dusk to fill the container with smoke. Allow the smoke to infuse until it completely dissipates. Taste and smoke again if you would like a more pronounced smoke flavor. Reserve the aioli in a container over an ice bath and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• For the custard: Sprinkle the yolks with the salt and lightly mix with a whisk.
• Place the yolks into a vacuum-sealed bag and compress under full pressure. Cook in a circulator at 65 degrees C (149 degrees F) for 1 hour. Alternatively, cook the custard in a double boiler set over low heat stirring with a rubber spatula.
• Chill the mixture in an ice bath until completely cooled. Pass the custard through a fine mesh strainer. It should have a thick, smooth texture. Reserve in a squeeze bottle or piping bag.
• For the sea urchin powder: Gently wipe the seaweed with a damp towel and cook it in 1 liter of filtered water at 70 degrees C (158 degrees F) for 1 hour. Strain the seaweed and add the salt to the cooking liquid, mixing until the salt dissolves. Chill the mixture over an ice bath until completely cool.
• Use the mixture to brine the sea urchin for 10 minutes. Remove the sea urchin from the brine and blend with the mirin. Place the mixture in a dehydrator programmed to the medium setting. When the sea urchin is completely dry, blend in a spice mill.
• For the fried chicken: Fill a cast-iron skillet with about 3 inches of grapeseed oil and some schmaltz if using. Heat the skillet until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F.
• Strain the chicken from the buttermilk and dust in the flour. Fry the chicken until golden, turning as necessary, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Season the fried chicken with the sal de gusano and sea urchin powder. Dot the fried chicken with egg yolk custard and place a few coriander blossoms and fennel fronds on top. Serve over the smoked oyster aioli.

ELECTRIC SMOKER SMOKED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Preheat an electric smoker to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C).
• Shuck oysters and add them to a bowl along with their liquor. Add salt and let marinate for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, wash 1/2 of the shells. Drain liquor from the oysters and place an oyster in each half shell.
• Place shells directly on the grate and smoke for 1 1/2 hours. Top each oyster with a dash of Worcestershire sauce before serving.

CEYLON CURRY OF OYSTERS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the shallots, garlic and chili, and sauté until softened and starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the curry powder, turmeric, cinnamon stick, cloves and bay leaf and cook for 1 minute.
• Reduce heat to low and add the coconut milk and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Simmer for 3 minutes. Add the oysters and their liquor; simmer until the oysters are just firm, 3 to 4 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and add lemon juice and salt to taste. Serve over rice -- the rice in the fish recipe that follows would go well -- or on hoppers (see the recipe at nytimes.com/magazine).

CURRIED RICE WITH SMOKED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Combine oil, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, curry powder, shake together and season to taste.
• Pour the dressing over the hot rice toss thoroughly and let cool.
• Add other ingredients and mix well.

STEAMED AND CURRY FLASHED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Prepare a large steamer basket lined with romaine, banana leaves or Napa cabbage. Top each oyster with ginger, scallions, a squirt of juice and black pepper. Steam hard for 3 to 5 minutes until the oysters are warm to hot in the middle. Meanwhile, heat the curry oil to very hot. Place the steamed oysters on a bed of rock salt.
• PLATING Flash each oyster with 1 teaspoon of oil. Serve as soon as possible.
• WINE: Veuve Clicquot Champagne, Blanc de Blanc

SMOKED OYSTERS ON TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler with oven rack 5 inches from the heat. Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
• Spread the butter evenly on both sides of the bread, and place on the prepared pan. Broil in preheated oven until deep golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.
• Spread 1 ½ tablespoons Deviled Egg Spread onto each toasted bread slice. Sprinkle evenly with chopped egg whites and diced celery. Cut each slice into 4 triangles.
• Top each triangle with smoked oysters and about ¼ teaspoon of trout roe. Garnish with chopped chives, and serve with lemon wedges and hot sauce.
• Serve with: Green salads; potato, tomato, or egg dishes; grilled vegetables

RED CURRY OYSTERS

Steps:

• Place the oysters on a dinner plate which could be used in a microwave. Make sure the top bit of the oysters is facing towards the end of the place to catch any of the juices.
• Distribute red curry paste in each oysters, you can add less or more paste it depends on you.
• Squeeze lemon juice in each oyster. Once again depending on your taste bugs.
• Place it in the microwave for 1 minute on high.
• Garnish oysters with Coriander/Cilantro.