Four Seasons Oysters In Champagne Veloute Food

FOUR SEASONS OYSTERS IN CHAMPAGNE VELOUTE

Steps:

• Remove the oysters from the shells and refrigerate. Reserve the oyster liquid and the shells.
• Melt butter in a 2 1/2-quart saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for 2 minutes without letting the mixture brown. Add enough fish stock to the oyster juice to make 1 cup. Gradually beat this into the flour mixture and when thickened and smooth, let the sauce simmer gently for about 20 minutes, whisking often to prevent the sauce from sticking to the pan.
• Stir in 1/4 cup of the Champagne and the cream. Simmer until the mixture is reduced to 1 cup, whisking often.
• In a separate pan, heat the remaining 1/4 cup Champagne with the herbs and cook until the liquid is almost evaporated. Add the mixture to the sauce and season with pepper.
• Preheat broiler. Line a baking pan large enough to hold the shells in a single layer with rock salt or crumpled foil to hold them steady. Rinse and dry the shells and place in the pan.
• Put an oyster on each shell and spoon about 1 heaping teaspoon of sauce over each. Glaze briefly under the broiler, transfer to individual plates and serve at once.

OYSTERS IN CHAMPAGNE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, reduce 1 cup of champagne to approximately 1/4 cup of liquid. Add the cream and reduce mixture to 1 cup of liquid. Add butter and stir until butter melts and thickens the mixture. Toss in shucked oysters and remove from heat. Place one oyster and some sauce in each saved shell. Garnish with chives and serve immediately.

FOUR SEASONS OYSTERS IN CHAMPAGNE VELOUTé

Steps:

• Remove the oysters from their shells and refrigerate. Reserve the oyster lIquid and the shells.
• Melt butter in a 2 1/2 quart saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for 2 minutes with stirring while not letting the mixture brown. Add enough fish stock to the oyster juice to make 1 cup. Gradually beat the mixture into the flour mixture and when thickened and smooth, let the sauce simmer gently for about 20 minutes, whisking often to prevent the sauce from sticking to the pan.
• Stir in 1/4 cup of the champagne and the cream. Simmer the mixture until it has reduced to one cup.
• In a separate pan heat the remaining 1/4 cup champagne with the herbs and cook until the liquid has almost evaporated. Add the mixture to the sauce ane season with the pepper.
• Preheat your broiler. Line a pan large enough to hold all of the oysters with rock salt or crumpled foil to hold them in place. Rinse and dry the shells and place them in the pan.
• Put an oyster on each shell and spoon a heaping Tbs of the sauce over each. Glaze briefly under the broiler, transfer to individual plates and serve at once.

OYSTER VELOUTé WITH BLACK CAVIAR

Steps:

• In a saucepan, melt the butter and soften the shallots but do not brown. Blend in the flour and cook over low heat, stirring often, for 10 minutes. (The roux should be smooth and golden.) In another saucepan, combine and warm the stocks. Gradually add stocks to the roux, stirring constantly, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, skimming off any scum that forms on the top. Add the salt.
• Strain oysters and reserve their liquor. Purée oysters in a food processor or blender and add them with their liquor to the soup. Simmer, partly covered, for 5 minutes, then add cayenne. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing hard with a spoon. (Soup may be prepared ahead to this point.)
• About 5 or 10 minutes before serving, reheat the soup. Whisk yolks and cream together. Slowly whisk in a cup of the hot soup, then stir the cream mixture back into the soup. Stir constantly over low heat, until soup thickens slightly. Bring almost to the boil and remove from heat. Add lemon juice and taste for seasonings. Ladle into serving bowls and top each with about a teaspoon of caviar.

OYSTERS WITH CHAMPAGNE-VINEGAR MIGNONETTE

Steps:

• Make mignonnette:
• Stir together vinegar, shallot, pepper, and sugar and let stand 30 minutes.
• Prepare oysters:
• Preheat broiler.
• Spread 3/4 cup salt in an 8- to 10-inch flameproof shallow baking dish or pan. Arrange oysters on their shells in salt, then top each with a piece of butter.
• Broil 4 to 6 inches from heat until butter is melted and sizzling and edges of oysters are beginning to curl, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir parsley into mignonnette. Divide remaining 3/4 cup salt between 2 plates and arrange 3 oysters on each. Spoon 1/4 teaspoon mignonnette over each oyster and sprinkle oysters with grapes. Serve warm.