Oyster And Spinach Loaf Recipes

SPINACH LOAF

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-5-inch nonstick loaf pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Place the eggs and milk in a large bowl. Add the bread and stir to combine.
• Heat the butter in a large, high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper and cook until soft, about 6 minutes. In batches, add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 15 minutes. Drain in a colander. Press gently on top of the spinach to release excess moisture. Set aside to cool slightly. Transfer the spinach mixture to a food processor and blend until smooth. Pour the spinach into the bowl with the bread mixture. Add 3/4 cup of the Parmesan, the remaining salt and pepper and the nutmeg. Stir until smooth.
• Spread half of the mixture on the bottom of the prepared pan. Lay the hard boiled eggs, end-to-end, in a line along the center of the spinach mixture. Add the remaining spinach mixture on top and press gently. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan on top and bake for 1 hour. Cool 15 minutes, then run a thin metal spatula around the edges of the pan to release the loaf. Invert the loaf onto a cutting board, remove the parchment paper, and cut into slices.

BAKED OYSTERS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Place the spinach in a large saucepan, cover, and steam over moderate heat for about 5 minutes or until tender.
• Drain the spinach, refresh under cold water, squeeze dry, and chop finely.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large skillet, heat half the butter, add the onion, and sauté over moderate heat for 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the spinach, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and cream.
• Stir well and cook over moderate heat for about 2 minutes, stirring in a few bread crumbs if necessary to thicken the mixture.
• Add the oysters and dill and stir well.
• Spoon the mixture into a well-buttered baking dish, sprinkle the top with bread crumbs, dot with the remaining butter, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

CREATIVE OYSTER LOAF

Steps:

• In a medium saute pan with deep sides begin heating oil. Season cornmeal with Creole spice. Dredge oysters in cornmeal mixture and add to hot oil, without crowding. Cook about 1 1/2 minutes, turning once. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain excess grease on paper towels. Slice bread in half horizontally across the middle. Open up loaf and spread a generous layer of tartar sauce on bottom half. Spread lettuce over and top with perfectly-cooked oysters. Replace bread top and eat immediately.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

SPINACH AND OYSTER BISQUE

Steps:

• Drain the oysters in a fine sieve set over a measuring cup, add enough water to the oyster liquor to measure 2 1/2 cups, and reserve the liquid. Discard any shell fragments from the oysters, rinse the oysters briefly, and chop them into 1/2-inch pieces. In a kettle cook the onion in the butter over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until it is pale golden, add the flour, and cook the roux, stirring, for 2 minutes. Whisk in the reserved oyster liquid and bring the mixture to a boil, whisking. Add the spinach, half the oysters, and the tarragon and simmer the mixture, stirring, for 2 minutes. In a blender purée the mixture in batches until it is smooth, transferring it as it is puréed to a bowl, and return it to the kettle. Add the cream and the remaining oysters and heat the bisque over moderate heat, stirring, until it is hot and the oysters are cooked, but do not let it boil. Stir in the zest, the sugar, the nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste and serve the bisque with the oyster crackers.

BREADED OYSTERS WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Cover the palm of your hand with a folded kitchen towel, and place an oyster in the center. With an oyster knife, scrape away any barnacles. Wipe the knife and thrust it into the hinge of the shell. Run the knife around the oyster and flip it open. Discard the top shell. Cut the muscle that holds the meat to the shell and transfer the meat and oyster brine to a saucepan. Repeat with remaining oysters.
• Place the saucepan over medium heat, bring the juices to a simmer and poach the oysters 1 minute, flipping them once while cooking. Transfer the oysters to a plate, and reserve the juices.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat the egg.
• Dip the oysters in the egg. Then, dredge them in the bread crumbs, tapping to remove excess. Set aside.
• Strain the reserved cooking juices through a fine sieve into a small saucepan, and cook over medium heat until reduced to about 1/2 cup. Using a wire whisk, beat in the lemon juice and 6 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Set aside.
• In a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil and add the spinach. Cook, stirring, until just wilted and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove and keep warm.
• In another nonstick pan large enough to hold the oysters in a single layer, melt the 4 remaining tablespoons butter over high heat. When the butter begins to bubble, add the oysters and cook on one side until slightly browned, about 1 1/2 minutes. Flip the oysters gently, and cook a minute or so, just until golden brown.
• Divide the spinach over 4 warmed serving plates. Spoon the sauce around the spinach. Arrange 6 oysters on each plate over the sauce. Sprinkle the border of the plate with paprika for color.

OYSTER, BREAD AND SPINACH STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut off and discard ends of the baguettes. Cut loaves, including the crust, into 3/4-inch cubes. Spread on two baking sheets, and place each sheet on middle rack of oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until toasty.
• In large skillet, heat chicken stock until it simmers. Add oysters and oyster liquid, and poach for 1 to 2 minutes, until just cooked. Transfer oysters to a bowl. Drain off and reserve poaching liquid.
• In the same skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Leave bacon fat in the pan. Add diced onions, parnsips, salsify and celery. Cook, stirring, over medium heat until almost tender.
• Cut spinach into large pieces. Add to vegetables in skillet and cook, stirring, until wilted. Remove from heat, and add reserved oysters and bacon. (If cooking in advance, cover and refrigerate overnight.)
• When ready to cook, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix thyme, parsley, eggs and butter in a bowl. Add reserved bread cubes, and mix well. Add enough reserved poaching liquid to moisten well. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper to taste.
• Transfer to 9-by-12-inch greased, shallow casserole. Bake, uncovered, for 35 to 40 minutes, until heated through.

OYSTER AND SPINACH LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F and butter a loaf pan.
• Melt butter in a large skillet, add onions, celery and garlic and cook over medium high heat, stirring until vegetables soften.
• Add spinach, cream, hot sauce, nutmeg and salt.
• Cook 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Remove pan from heat, stir in bread crumbs, eggs and oysters, stirring until well mixed.
• Spoon mixture into the prepared loaf pan.
• Set pan in a larger baking dish and add about 1 1/2 inchs of boiling water.
• Bake 45-50 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the middle comes out clean.