Crispy Fried Oysters with Tartar Sauce
From the Source, Season 3, Oysters
Ingredients
Fried Oysters
- 12 raw oysters in the shell
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups neutral frying oil
Tartar Sauce
- 1 cup mayonaisse
- 2 tablespoons capers minced
- 2 tablespoons cornichons minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill minced
- 1 tablespoon shallot minced
- 1 lemon zested
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine cornmeal, and salt.
- Shuck the oysters, reserve and separate their juice.
- Choose a pot that is deep enough so that there is at least 4 inches of head space between the oil and the top of the pot. The oil should be about 2 inches deep. If your pot is larger, you may need to add more oil. Heat the oil to 350-375 F.
- Dredge the oysters in the cornmeal mixture, then dip them back into their reserved juice, and back into the cornmeal mixture for a second time. Carefully drop the oysters in the oil and fry for 2-3 minutes. Be careful, oysters have a high water content and will pop in the oil. After 2-3 minutes, remove the oysters from the pot with a slotted metal spoon and briefly place on a towel to drain. Do not overcrowd the pot, fry in batches if needed. Serve within 5-10 minutes with tartar sauce.
- Tartar SauceCombine all ingredients together in a medium size bowl and stir to combine. Serve as a dipping sauce for any fried food, or use a sandwich spread.