Maquechoux Oysters Recipes

CAJUN CORN AND BACON MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Cut corn off the cobs by thinly slicing across the tops of the kernels; place in a medium bowl. Cut across the kernels again to release milk from the corn, add milk to bowl. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and green pepper, cook until onion is transparent, about 5 to 8 minutes. Combine corn, tomatoes, and milk with the onion mixture. Reduce heat to medium low, and cook 20 minutes longer, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Do not boil. Season with salt and cayenne pepper. Lower heat, cover skillet, and cook 5 to 10 minutes longer. Stir in green onions and bacon. Remove from heat and serve.

MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Working with 1 corn cob at a time, set the ear of corn upright in a medium bowl. Shave the corn from the cob by slicing down the sides using the tip of a sharp chef's knife, holding the knife almost vertical. (This gives you neat tablets of corn that land squarely in the bowl and keeps the kernels from scattering all over the counter.) Using the back of the knife, scrape each cob to release all the nibs and the "milk" of the kernels into the bowl. Repeat with remaining ears of corn, then snap the cobs in half, and add them to the bowl.
• In a large, deep sauté pan, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat until foaming. Add onion and celery, and season with 1 or 2 pinches of kosher salt. Stir constantly until softened and translucent but not browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add 2 tablespoons butter and the bell pepper, poblano and serrano, and stir constantly, adding another pinch of kosher salt, letting the butter melt and the peppers soften and become translucent, about 2 or 3 minutes. You will smell the peppers' sweetness and their mild capsaicin releasing.
• Add the final 3 tablespoons butter and the corn mixture from the bowl, cobs included, and another pinch of kosher salt. Stir constantly to coat with the butter and combine thoroughly.
• When everything starts to hiss and sound hot, but isn't cooking so hard as to take color, add 1/2 cup water and a healthy few grinds of black pepper, and cover the pan for a couple of minutes to steam/shallow braise the mixture.
• Remove the lid, and stir well, noticing the corn releasing its liquid and the kernels softening, and the cobs turning somewhat translucent, if however vague. You will notice a general softening and melding together. Return the lid, and let cook a few more minutes, noticing the water evaporating and the remaining liquid reducing and gaining some "body" and gloss. Discard the corn cobs, but do suck them before tossing - those buttery juices make a nice cook's treat.
• Taste for salt, and serve. It should be sweet, spicy, a bit wet and surprisingly complex, given the few ingredients and their ordinariness. If you want a smoky taste, add a good pinch of smoked paprika.

MATTHEW'S MALIBU OYSTERS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to high. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Shuck the oysters and set aside in the refrigerator or on ice, keeping them in the shell.
• In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, white vinegar, Parmesan, salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste, cayenne, and white pepper. Stir to combine, and then stir in the fried potato sticks.
• In a small saute pan, add the olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add the bell peppers and red onions and saute for 3 minutes, and then add the spinach and allow to wilt. Adjust seasoning, to taste.
• Top each oyster with the spinach mixture, dividing evenly, and then do the same with the mayo mixture. Top with the havarti and place on a baking sheet lined with a layer of rock salt. Roast in the oven until cheese is bubbly and oysters are just warmed through, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Let cool enough to handle, and then serve right away.

MAQUECHOUX OYSTERS

Steps:

• Scrub oysters well with a brush under running water. Discard any that are open or have broken shells. Shuck oysters, saving all liquid and bottom halves of shells. Scrub shells inside and out, and set aside. Refrigerate oysters in reserved liquid, covered, until ready to use.
• Cut corn from cobs; set aside. Heat oil in a medium saute pan over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook, covered, until translucent, about 10 minutes.
• Add corn and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes, or until corn is softened. Add salt, cayenne, red pepper, and jalapenos and cook for 2 minutes.
• Drain oysters, reserving liquid. Measure liquid and add enough water to make 1 cup. Pour into pan. Turn heat up to medium and cook about 10 minutes, or until liquid is mostly reduced. Set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat about 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees. Dredge oysters in cornmeal, coating them entirely. Fry in batches (don't overlap) and drain on paper towels.
• Arrange 4 or 5 oyster shells on each plate. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of Red Pepper Mayonnaise into each shell, and top with an oyster and some of the corn mixture. Serve immediately.

CAJUN CORN MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• 1. Cut the kernels off of the corn into a large bowl. Using the back of the knife, scrape the sweet corn milk from the cobs to extract about 3 tablespoons and add it to the bowl. Set aside.
• 2. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until the fat renders and the bacon is crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel-lined plate and set aside. Add the butter to the skillet and when melted, add the celery, bell peppers and onions. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are soft, about 15 minutes. Add the milk, scallion whites, garlic, tomatoes and corn. Cook until thickened, 10 minutes.
• 3. Serve garnished with the scallion greens and reserved bacon.

LOUISIANA MAQUECHOUX

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium-size non-stick skillet.
• Add onion and red pepper and cook, over medium-high heat until the vegetables are soft and well browned (10 to 15 minutes).
• Add corn, tomatoes, salt, sugar and cayenne pepper.
• Heat until mixture starts to bubble over high heat, then reduce heat, cover and simmer until corn is tender.
• Check and stir occasionally.
• It will take about 20 minutes for fresh corn to cook and about 10 minutes for frozen corn.
• When corn is done, stir in half and half and cook until it is hot.
• Garnish by sprinkling with freshly ground black pepper and chopped parsley.

CAJUN - CREOLE MAQUECHOUX

Steps:

• Shuck the corn and remove all of the cornsilk.
• Hold each cob over a bowl and cut the kernels away in layers (don't cut off whole kernels), then scrape the knife along the cob to get all of the"milk" out of it.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan or pot over medium-high heat.
• Add the onions, bell peppers, celery and tomatoes and saute until the onions are transparent, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the salt and peppers, then add the corn and milk from the cobs, the sugar and evaporated milk and stir well.
• Reduce heat to medium and cook until the corn is tender, about 10-15 more minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.

CRAWFISH MACQUECHOU

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, cut corn kernels from the cob into a large bowl. Into the same bowl, scrape the cobs with the dull side of the knife to release any juice left in the cob. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper and tomatoes, and cook and stir until the onion is tender, about 10 minutes. Add the corn, crawfish, green onions, sugar, salt, black pepper, and cayenne and cook and stir until corn is tender, about 10 minutes.