Crisp Fried Oysters With Red Chile Vinegar Black Pepper Dipping Sauce Food

FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• For the Tartar Sauce: Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer to 350°F, in a deep cast iron skillet, or in a Dutch oven over medium heat to a depth of about 2-3 inches, until it reaches 350°F. If you don't have a deep-fry thermometer, sprinkle a few drops of water on the hot oil. If it sizzles, the oil is hot enough.
• Drain the oysters in a colander and pat dry with paper towels. Use a toothpick to poke a small hole in the large round part of each oyster.
• Put the buttermilk in a shallow dish. In a separate shallow dish, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, Old Bay seasoning and pepper.
• Add the oysters to the buttermilk and soak for a few minutes. Remove the oysters from the buttermilk, gently shake off excess liquid, and dredge in cornmeal mixture to coat on all sides. Shake off excess breading and transfer to a wire rack.
• Working in batches so that you don't overcrowd the pan, fry oysters until golden and crispy, about 2-3 minutes. Drain on paper towels, season with additional salt and pepper (if necessary) while they're still warm, and serve hot with tartar sauce or other dipping sauce.

CHILE CRISP

Steps:

• Heat the oil, black beans, Szechuan peppercorns, cardamom pods, 4 star anise, 3 cinnamon sticks and all but 1 slice of ginger in a large saucepan over medium-low heat until the oil reaches 250 degrees F, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit for 5 minutes to infuse.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the gochugaru, red pepper flakes, Kashmiri red chile powder, sugar, MSG, garlic, onion remaining star anise, cinnamon sticks, ginger slice and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium heat-proof bowl.
• Strain the spiced oil through a fine mesh sieve into the dry chile mixture and stir to combine. (Discard the oil-soaked whole spices.) Let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours. The flavor will develop and intensify as it sits. Serve when completely cool.
• Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

GRILLED OYSTERS WITH MANGO PICO DE GALLO AND RED CHILI HORSERADISH

Steps:

• Make the Mango Pico de Gallo: Mix together the mango, onion, jalapeno, lime juice, oil, honey, and recao or cilantro in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and stir to combine. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using.
• Mix together the horseradish and ancho chili powder in a small bowl. Season with salt, to taste.
• Heat grill to high. Dip oysters in water, as this will help them steam open on the grill. Place oysters on the grill, close the cover, and grill until all have opened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard any that do not open. Place a tablespoon of the Mango Pico de Gallo on top of each oyster and top that with a scant teaspoon of the Red Chili Horseradish.

CRISPY OYSTERS WITH CHILE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat a fryer or wok filled 1/2 way with oil to 400 degrees. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, Old Bay and slowly add the soda until a pancake batter consistency is achieved. Dip each oyster in the batter and fry until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Season lightly with salt. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the vinegar, soy, chiles, sugar and sesame oil.
• PLATING: Cover a large platter with greens and place a small bowl of dipping sauce in the middle. Surround with hot oysters.

PAN FRIED OYSTERS WITH AGED SHERRY SAUCE AND OSETRA CAVIAR

Steps:

• For the Oysters: Dredge oysters in cornmeal. Heat oil in a large skillet until almost smoking. Saute oysters on each side for 1 minute. Spoon 2 teaspoons of butter sauce into each reserved shell. Top with an oyster and a heaping teaspoon of caviar
• For the Aged Sherry Sauce: Place shallots and sherry vinegar in a small saucepan and reduce to 1 tablespoon over high heat. Whisk in the butter, piece by piece. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

FRIED OYSTERS WITH TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare the oysters: Season flour with salt and pepper. Dredge each oyster in the flour, then dip in the beaten egg, then coat evenly in the panko.
• Set breaded oysters on a baking cooling rack, leaving a little room between the oysters so they can dry and set. Refrigerate until ready to fry and serve.
• Make the sauce: Finely mince garlic with a pinch of salt until sticky and pasty. Mince shallots, cornichons and capers as finely as possible. Add all to a small bowl. Stir in mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, caper brine and cornichon vinegar, and stir well. Add chopped parsley, stir well and season to taste with salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Fry the oysters: Melt enough shortening in a deep medium skillet (we love cast iron) over medium for 1 1/2 inches of liquified fat once hot. Increase heat to medium-high. It's ready to fry in when a few crumbs of panko or the tip of a wooden chopstick sizzles actively in the fat.
• Add the oysters cold from the refrigerator, working in batches of 6 to 8 or as you have room. Fry, making sure to turn them to get both sides, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes, depending on size. Remove with a slotted spoon or spider, and let rest on a clean rack while you fry the rest. Season each batch with a little salt while still piping hot, as soon as you pull them from the fat. Serve with tartar sauce.

DEEP FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Heat deep fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Combine flour, salt and black pepper. Dredge oysters in flour mixture, dip in egg and roll in bread crumbs.
• Carefully slide oysters into hot oil. Cook five at a time until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain briefly on paper towels. Serve hot.

CHILE VINEGAR DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Sterilize jar and lid:
• Wash jar, lid, and screw band in hot soapy water, then rinse well. Dry screw band. Put empty jar on a rack in a boiling-water canner or a deep 5- to 6-quart pot and add enough hot water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil 10 minutes. Remove canner from heat, leaving jar in water. Heat lid in water to cover by 2 inches in a small saucepan until thermometer registers 180°F (do not let boil). Remove from heat. Keep jar and lid submerged in hot water, covered, until ready to use.
• Make chile vinegar:
• Carefully remove jar and lid with tongs, then drain jar upside down on a clean kitchen towel and dry lid.
• Pack chiles into jar. Bring vinegar to a boil in small saucepan, then remove from heat and pour over chiles. Cool to room temperature. Wipe off rim of jar with a dampened clean kitchen towel, then top with lid and firmly screw on screw band. Chill sealed jar 2 weeks.
• Make dipping sauce:
• Bring water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then stir in red-pepper flakes (if using), 2 tablespoons chile vinegar, and salt to taste. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.