Grilled Oysters With Jalapeno Herb Mignonette 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.

GRAPEFRUIT-JALAPENO MIGNONETTE

Steps:

• Stir together the grapefruit juice and vinegar.
• Slice the jalapenos in half and remove the seeds. For a less spicy version, also remove the ribs and pith.
• Using a cheese grater over a plate, grate the jalapeno halves (with the outside of the pepper facing up) into fine mince, being sure to save the pepper juice as well. Grate the peppers until just the outer skin is left; discard the skin. Add the grated peppers and their juice to the vinegar mixture.
• Chill and serve ice cold with your favorite oysters.

GRILLED OYSTERS ATHENA

Steps:

• Preheat a grill.
• Saute the shallots and garlic in olive oil until the shallots are translucent. Add the spinach and continue to saute until the spinach is tender and reduced in size. Add the cinnamon and pine nuts, mix, and set aside.
• Depending on the size of the oysters, arrange 1 to 2 oysters on reserved half-shells. Place a portion of the spinach mixture over the oysters. Spoon the bechamel sauce topping over the spinach mixture. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the bechamel.
• Grill on the half-shell over a medium high heat fire for approximately 5 to 10 minutes, or until oysters are done. Serve immediately.
• Melt butter in saucepan and whisk in flour until well blended. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to remove the starchy taste of the flour. Gradually add the milk, stirring, until the mixture comes to a boil. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Simmer until the sauce thickens. Beat the egg yolk slightly. Add the hot, thickened sauce to the egg yolk, stirring well. Pour the egg yolk mixture back into saucepan, stirring constantly. Add the crumbled feta cheese and stir constantly until cheese is melted and fully incorporated. Remove sauce from heat and use immediately.