Oysters Rockefeller

The original oysters Rockefeller recipe is a closely guarded secret, but this version gets close with an herb-filled roux and a breadcrumb crust.

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • Rock salt, as needed
  • Oysters, chilled
  • 4 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 4 tbsp. flour
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne
  • 6 scallions, minced
  • 2 ribs celery, minced
  • 2 sprigs tarragon, stemmed and minced
  • 1 bunch parsley, stemmed and minced, plus sprigs to garnish
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
  • 3 tbsp. fresh bread crumbs

Directions

  1. Fill 2 ovenproof baking dishes halfway with rock salt. Shuck oysters over a bowl to catch their liquor (you should have about 1⁄2 cup), discarding flat top shells. Loosen oysters from bottom shells with a knife. Nestle 6 shucked oysters in their shells into each bed of rock salt; chill.
  2. Melt butter in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; cook until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add oyster liquor; cook until thickened to a paste, about 2 minutes. Stir in cayenne, scallions, celery, tarragon, parsley, and salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until soft, about 1 hour. Transfer to a food processor, add bread crumbs, and process into a smooth paste, about 2 minutes.
  3. Heat broiler to high. Place paste in a pastry bag fitted with a 1⁄2” fluted tip. Pipe paste completely over oysters. Broil until paste begins to brown and oysters are just cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Garnish each dish with parsley sprigs, if you like.