Gratinéed Oysters With Sauerkraut Food

GRILLED OYSTERS THREE WAYS

Steps:

• For the mignonette: Stir together the red wine vinegar, white balsamic vinegar, shallots and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• For the bourbon BBQ sauce: Stir together the barbecue sauce and bourbon in a small bowl. Set aside.
• For the scampi butter: Mash to combine the butter, white wine, lemon juice, garlic, shallot, 1 tablespoon of the parsley, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Side aside.
• For the oysters: Prepare an outdoor grill for medium-high heat. Add the coarse sea salt in mounds to a large 9-by-13-inch aluminum roasting pan.
• Cooking in batches if necessary, put the oysters with their cupped side down in the roasting pan, nestling them in the salt so the flat side is facing up and they do not tip. Put the roasting pan on the hottest part of the grill and close the lid. Cook until the shells open slightly (wide enough to slide a knife in), 5 to 8 minutes, depending on the size of the oysters.
• Carefully remove the roasting pan from the grill. Insert the tip of an oyster knife or small sharp paring knife in the shell opening and run the knife along the inside of the top shell to release the oyster; remove the top shell. Run the knife under the oyster meat in the bottom shell to release the oyster, keeping the oyster and juices in the shell. Repeat with the remaining oysters, placing 12 of them on a platter and the remainder back in the pan. Serve the oysters on the platter immediately with the mignonette, or refrigerate until ready to serve. (See Cook's Note.)
• Spoon the bourbon BBQ sauce over 12 of the remaining oysters in the roasting pan (about 1 teaspoon each). Top each with some of the bacon and chives.
• Put a dollop of the scampi butter over the 12 remaining oysters in the roasting pan (about 1 teaspoon each).
• Return the roasting pan to the grill, close the lid and cook until the oyster fillings are just starting to bubble, about 5 minutes. Remove from the grill and transfer to a serving platter.
• Sprinkle the scampi butter oysters with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped parsley and serve immediately.

GRATINéED OYSTERS WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons of the butter in a pot over medium heat. Add half the onions and cook until softened, 5-7 minutes. Add 1⁄2 cup of the wine, sauerkraut, and salt and pepper; boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer, partially covered, 8-10 minutes. Drain the sauerkraut mixture and set aside.
• Heat remaining butter in a pot over medium heat. Add remaining onions; cook until softened, 5-7 minutes. Add oyster liquor, remaining wine, 1⁄2 cup cream, and vermouth and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low; reduce by half, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in egg yolk and remaining cream. Add cayenne and season with salt and pepper. Set sauce aside.
• Heat broiler with rack 4" from element. Divide sauerkraut between shells; top each with an oyster. Spoon some sauce over each and broil until light golden brown, about 5 minutes.