Roasted Oysters With Warm Bacon Vinaigrette Recipes

ROASTED OYSTERS WITH COUNTRY BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Using a towel, grasp and oyster in the palm of your hand. Press the oyster, rounded-side down, on a firm surface, still holding it with the towel. Shuck the oyster by wedging the tip of an oyster knife (regular knives are too thin-bladed) between the halves of the shell, at the shell's narrowest end. When the knife tip is securely wedged, rotate the blade to pry open the shell. Slide the knife blade along the length of the shell to open completely. Remove the oyster from the shell and reserve, along with its juice. From each pair of oyster shells, save the one that is most concave on the inside, and discard the one that is flatter. Place the concave shells in a pan of cold water and scrub inside and out. Place the clean oyster shells on a cookie sheet and set aside.
• Dip the tomatoes briefly in boiling water to loosen the skins, then in ice water. Peel, cut in half, remove and discard the seeds, and dice.
• Have the remaining ingredients measured and ready beside the stove. When you are ready to begin cooking the oysters, place the cookie sheet containing the oyster shells in the oven. On the top of the stove, melt the butter in a hot saute pan until it begins to foam. Add the shallots, the oysters and their juice and the white wine. Cook the oysters 30 seconds, then add the heavy cream. Bring to a quick boil, then reduce to a simmer just 1 minute more, or until the oysters' edges begin to curl. Add the tomato, tarragon and bacon. Heat another 30 seconds, then remove promptly from the heat.
• Remove the oyster shells from the oven and arrange 6 on each plate. Spoon 1 oyster into each shell and spoon a little of the sauce over each.
• A nice variation of this recipe is to place a "nest" of steamed spinach in each oyster shell before adding the oysters and sauce. Serve with Melba Toast, brioche toast points or toast points of country bread.

OYSTER AND BACON STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Spread out the bread on 2 baking sheets; bake until dried out, about 1 hour, rotating the baking sheets as needed.
• Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove 1/4 cup of the drippings, leaving about 1/2 cup in the pot. Add the onion, celery, carrots and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and add 1 1/2 cups stock. Add the marjoram and set aside.
• Whisk the remaining 1 1/2 cups stock and the eggs in a large bowl. Add the scallions, parsley, Old Bay, oysters with their liquor and the vegetable-bacon mixture. Add the bread and mix until most of the liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the mixture to a 3-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with the parmesan and bake until browned on top, 30 to 40 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

ROASTED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Melt the butter over medium heat in a small saucepan. Add the shallots and cook, stirring, until they are translucent and beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the chardonnay, bring to a lively simmer, and reduce until only about 2 tablespoons of liquid remains. Add the cream and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and reduce to 2/3 cup. Remove from the heat, stir in the white pepper, and set aside.
• Preheat the oven broiler to 500 degrees F. Arrange the top oven rack so a roasting pan will fit below the heating element. Prepare appetizer plates by placing a bed of rock salt on each, to hold the oysters. Distribute the rock salt evenly between to roasting pans large enough to hold the oysters.
• If the fishmonger shucked your oysters, return the oysters to their cleaned shells one by one, and add about 1/2 teaspoon of the oyster liquid to each, nesting the shells carefully in the rock salt so the contents don't spill. Otherwise, arrange freshly shucked oysters in the rock salt-filled roasting pans, ensuring that their liquid doesn't spill.
• Spoon about 2 teaspoons of the shallot-cream mixture on top of each oyster. Coat each oyster well, without having the shell overflow with liquid. Put one roasting pan in the oven and broil just until the liquid bubbles and the oysters' edges begin to curl, about 3 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning. Repeat with the other roasting pan. Carefully lift 4 oysters in their shells onto each appetizer plate. Serve immediately.

GRILLED SHRIMP & SCALLOPS WITH WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat grill to high.
• Fry bacon for the vinaigrette in a large saute pan over medium-high heat.
• Pour of all drippings, leaving bacon bits in the pan.
• Stir in 2 Tablespoons oil, vinegar, sugar or sugar substitute, and lime juice.
• Off heat, season with salt and pepper; keep warm.
• Toss seafood with remaining oil, garlic, salt, pepper and pepper flakes in a bowl.
• Thread shrimp and scallops onto separate metal skewers(I don't know about wooden skewers ~ however, if you should use, soak in water before using).
• Grill scallops on bothe sides until cooked through 3-4 minutes per side.
• Grill shrimp until cooked through, about 2 minutes per side.
• Remove seafood from skewers and arrange on plates, then drizzle with vinaigrette and sprinkle with cilantro.
• Serve with yellow rice, fried ripe plantains, and a salad of red peppers and sliced tomatoes and a lovely wine.
• Enjoy!