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Oysters Rockefeller
Baked oysters under a green herb and butter crumb
Oysters Rockefeller were created at Antoine's in the French Quarter in 1889 and named after the richest man in America because the sauce was so rich; the restaurant has never shared its exact recipe. Live Gulf oysters on the half shell are covered with a bright green butter of herbs and greens and baked until bubbling, a classic starter at New Orleans celebration dinners. This version uses a dash of anise-flavoured liqueur, which is traditional; it can be replaced with a pinch of ground fennel seed for an alcohol-free version. Chef's tip: bed the shells on coarse salt so they sit level and the juices don't spill.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 24 live oysters
- 1 ⅛ lb coarse saltfor the tray
- 4 oz buttersoft
- 3 ½ oz spinach
- ⅔ oz fresh parsley
- 4 spring onionschopped
- 1 celery stickchopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 ¾ oz fine dried breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp anise liqueur
- ½ tsp hot sauce
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 lemon wedgesto serve
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What you'll need
Fresh ingredients (7)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Scrub the 24 live oysters. Throw away any with cracked shells or that are open and do not close when tapped.
5 minStep 2: Blend the 4 oz butter, 3 ½ oz spinach, ⅔ oz fresh parsley, 4 spring onions, 1 celery stick, 2 cloves garlic, 1 ¾ oz fine dried breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp anise liqueur, ½ tsp hot sauce and ¼ tsp salt to a smooth green paste. Chill.
8 minStep 3: Shuck the oysters with an oyster knife and a folded cloth to protect your hand, keeping them in the deeper half-shell with their liquor. Throw away any that smell unpleasant or look dry.
20 minStep 4: Heat the oven to 450°F (400°F fan). Spread the 1 ⅛ lb coarse salt over a roasting tray and nestle in the oysters. Spoon a heaped teaspoon of green butter over each.
5 minStep 5: Bake for 8–10 minutes until the topping bubbles and the oyster edges curl. A common mistake is overbaking, which makes the oysters shrink and toughen. Serve at once with 4 lemon wedges.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 310 kcal
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 23 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does oysters Rockefeller take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of fresh parsley?
- Fresh coriander or chives, same amount.
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