Oyster Poor Boy Recipes

Steps:

• Combine the buttermilk and 2 teaspoons of hot sauce in a small bowl. Add the oysters and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.
• While the oysters are soaking, whisk the mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, the remaining tablespoon of hot sauce, pickle brine, 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, parsley, black pepper, cayenne, garlic powder and sumac together in a medium mixing bowl. Add the iceberg lettuce and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Heat the peanut oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven over high heat until it reaches 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Then lower the heat to slowly bring the oil up to 375 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, combine the cornmeal, panko, the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and nutmeg in a medium bowl.
• Remove each oyster from the marinade and shake off the excess moisture. Dredge in the cornmeal mixture, then move to a cooling rack set over a half-sheet pan. Allow the oysters to sit for several minutes afterwards to allow the breading to set.
• Transfer 6 oysters at a time to the hot oil and fry until golden brown, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. (Watch your thermometer because the introduction of cold food will likely pull the temperature down a bit.)
• Carefully transport the fried oysters to a clean cooling rack. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper. Bring the oil back to 370 to 375 degrees F and repeat with the remaining oysters.
• Split the rolls in half lengthwise. Tear out a bit of bread from the center of each roll, creating a trough. (If you wish, lightly toast the rolls in a 375 degrees F oven for 3 minutes.)
• Line the bottom of your roll with slaw and top with 5 to 6 oysters.
• Consume. Notice how the slaw is kinda gooshy (in a good way) and how that contrasts with the crunch of the oysters. Pulling some of the bread out of the middle will help the sandwich stay together, but you're still going to need a roll of paper towels to eat this thing.

Steps:

• For the Rockefeller sauce: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and bring to golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the liqueur (CAUTION: Skillet will flame up when using a gas range.) Add the half-and-half, hot sauce, granulated garlic, granulated onion, white pepper and ground thyme. Stir and bring to a simmer.
• Add the spinach and bring back to a simmer. Turn off the flame and add the breadcrumbs and cheese. Check for consistency. If there's too much liquid, add more breadcrumbs and cheese. If it's too thick, add more half-and-half.
• For the fry dredge: Whisk together the corn flour, all-purpose flour, Creole seasoning and lemon pepper in a large bowl.
• For the sandwich: Melt the butter and garlic in a small skillet. Cut the French bread and "paint" the inside of the bread with the garlic butter. Firmly the press the inside of the bread down on a large skillet or flat-top grill to toast the bread.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer, a cube of bread will brown in about 3 minutes.) Dredge the oysters in the fry dredge and then deep-fry, in batches if necessary, until golden brown and firm to the touch, about 2 minutes.
• Arrange the oysters on the inside of the bread. Top with Rockefeller sauce and garnish with Parmesan.

Steps:

• Mix together buttermilk, cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Add oysters and turn to coat; let stand 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a shallow dish, mix together cornmeal, flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and a pinch of cayenne; set aside.
• In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan with high sides, heat oil to 350 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer.
• Dredge oysters in cornmeal mixture, shaking off any excess. Working in batches, quickly and carefully add oysters to hot oil and cook, turning, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer oysters to a plate lined with paper towels; season with salt.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Spread butter on both sides of hot dog buns and place in the skillet on their sides, turning, until evenly browned.
• Spread tartar sauce in the bottom of each bun. Top with fried oysters, and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Steps:

• For the tartar sauce: Mix together the mayonnaise, parsley, capers, mustard, onions, relish and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• For the coleslaw: Put the cabbage, carrots, onions and parsley in a large bowl. Mix together the sugar and vinegar in a medium bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Mix in the mayonnaise, mustard, celery salt and black pepper. Pour the dressing into the cabbage mixture and fold. Reserve.
• For the oysters: Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan until a deep-fry thermometer inserted in the oil registers 350 degrees F.
• Mix together the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Put the eggs in another shallow bowl and the panko in a third. Dip the oysters first in the seasoned flour, next in the beaten egg and finally in the panko. Slip the oysters into the oil and deep-fry until golden brown; drain on paper towels.
• Putting it all together: Spread some tartar sauce on the buns. Place 2 oysters on each bottom bun, and top with lettuce and tomato. Finish with the top buns. Put some coleslaw on each plate and top with 2 more oysters.

Steps:

• Drain the oysters and place in a small bowl. Cover with 1 cup milk and let soak for 15 minutes. In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining milk, water, cayenne and eggs. Place the flour, cornmeal, black pepper, and salt into a brown paper bag, close and shake to mix.
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, pour enough oil to fill the pan halfway. Heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 360 degrees F.
• Drain the oysters from the milk. In batches dip oysters in the egg mixture then drop in the paper bag. Close and shake. Remove to a plate and repeat with the rest of the oysters. When oil is at 360 degrees F, fry oysters in batches. Do not overcrowd. Cook turning once until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes. Remove to a paper towel. Repeat with remaining oysters.
• To serve, cut sandwich loaves in half horizontally. Slather a generous amount of Spicy Remoulade Sauce on the inside. Place a lettuce leaf inside and fill generously with oysters. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over oysters just before serving.
• Place all ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth. Chill until ready to serve.

Steps:

• Make chipotle mayonnaise:
• Whisk together mayonnaise, chipotle, and lemon juice and chill mixture, its surface covered with plastic wrap.
• Fry oysters:
• Heat oil in a deep heavy pot (preferably a cast-iron Dutch oven) over high heat until it registers 375°F on deep-fat thermometer, about 12 minutes.
• While oil is heating, whisk together egg, milk, and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Shake cornmeal, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and pepper in a plastic or paper bag until combined well. Working in batches, add oysters to egg mixture, then lift out, letting excess drip off, and transfer to cornmeal in bag, shaking to coat well.
• Carefully transfer to oil, knocking off excess coating, and fry, turning occasionally, until golden and just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Coat and fry remaining oysters in same manner, returning oil to 375°F for each batch.
• Assemble sandwich:
• Halve loaf crosswise and horizontally, cutting all the way through, and spread one cut side of each piece with mayonnaise. Sandwich oysters and lettuce between bread, pressing gently.