Fried Oysters Cracker Crumb Coating Recipes

FRIED OYSTERS WITH TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare the oysters: Season flour with salt and pepper. Dredge each oyster in the flour, then dip in the beaten egg, then coat evenly in the panko.
• Set breaded oysters on a baking cooling rack, leaving a little room between the oysters so they can dry and set. Refrigerate until ready to fry and serve.
• Make the sauce: Finely mince garlic with a pinch of salt until sticky and pasty. Mince shallots, cornichons and capers as finely as possible. Add all to a small bowl. Stir in mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, caper brine and cornichon vinegar, and stir well. Add chopped parsley, stir well and season to taste with salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Fry the oysters: Melt enough shortening in a deep medium skillet (we love cast iron) over medium for 1 1/2 inches of liquified fat once hot. Increase heat to medium-high. It's ready to fry in when a few crumbs of panko or the tip of a wooden chopstick sizzles actively in the fat.
• Add the oysters cold from the refrigerator, working in batches of 6 to 8 or as you have room. Fry, making sure to turn them to get both sides, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes, depending on size. Remove with a slotted spoon or spider, and let rest on a clean rack while you fry the rest. Season each batch with a little salt while still piping hot, as soon as you pull them from the fat. Serve with tartar sauce.

DEEP FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Heat deep fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Combine flour, salt and black pepper. Dredge oysters in flour mixture, dip in egg and roll in bread crumbs.
• Carefully slide oysters into hot oil. Cook five at a time until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain briefly on paper towels. Serve hot.

PAN-FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Drain oysters; blot oysters dry on paper towels.
• In a small bowl, beat the eggs slightly.
• Place flour and cracker crumbs on separate sheets of waxed paper.
• Lightly coat oysters in flour; shake off the excess; dip into egg, then in crumbs, pressing crumbs to adhere.
• Place on a sheet of waxed paper.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over med-high heat until butter is melted.
• Add 1/3 of the oysters; saute 2 minutes or until golden brown.
• Turn oysters and saute another 2 minutes.
• Remove to a baking sheet lined with paper towels; keep warm in low oven.
• Wipe skillet clean; fry remaining oysters in 2 batches; serve warm.

KELLY'S FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Pour oysters into a colander, rinse gently with cold water, drain.
• Carefully pat oysters dry on paper towel a few at a time.
• Dip oysters into beaten egg, let excess drip off, then into cracker crumbs, set on plate. Repeat til all are coated.
• Place in fridge, or cook now.
• Put oils and butter in pan and heat to med-high heat.
• Carefully place oysters into hot oil.
• Cook til golden brown on both sides turning only once as breading and oysters are delicate. About 3-4 minutes TOTAL if using medium-sized oysters. Watch them carefully!
• Place on paper towels to drain.
• Serve with your favorite sauce such as cocktail, tartar or Ranch dressing.
• Serves about 2.

SKILLET-FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Heat the butter and oil in a skillet. Roll the oysters in the egg and crackers crumbs and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute the oysters, turning once, until golden brown. Sprinkle the parsley or paprika on top and garnish with lemon.

PANKO FRIED OYSTERS FOR TWO

Steps:

• HOT SAUCE: Mix all ingredients together.
• To allow flavors to blend, refrigerate several hours.
• Hot Sauce will keep several days in the refrigerator.
• Be sure to cover it tightly.
• Line colander with two layers of paper towel.
• Rinse oysters, drain and put in colander, patting to dry.
• EGG DIP: In small bowl, add egg and milk; whisk to blend well.
• If using only egg whites, do not whisk enough to be dry/frothy.
• FLOUR COATING: Put all ingredients in small plastic bag and shake to mix well.
• PANKO COATING: in a small bowl, add ingredients and mix well.
• TO BREAD OYSTERS: Step 1: Dip 2 or 3 oysters in Egg Dip, letting any excess drain off.
• Step 2: Place them in Flour Coating, shaking to completely coat oysters.
• Remove from Flour Mixture.
• Step 3: Repeat step 1.
• Step 4: Place them in Panko Coating bowl.
• Roll them over and get them completely coated with bread crumbs.
• With tongs, gently remove them from breadcrumbs and place in a single layer on a baking tray lined with plastic wrap.
• Repeat Steps 1-4 until all oysters are breaded.
• Cover breaded oysters with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or more.
• This breading can be done up to 8 hours ahead.
• TO FRY OYSTERS: Heat frying oil in deep pan to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• With tongs, gently remove oysters from baking sheet and gently drop them into the hot oil.
• Fry the oysters in small (6-8 oysters each) batches to keep from lowering the temperature of the oil too much.
• Fry about 2 minutes or until golden brown on one side, turn and brown other side (about 1-2 minutes).
• Remove from oil and drain on layers of paper towels.
• NOTE: After cooking one batch of oysters, let the temperature of the oil return to about 375, before cooking the next batch.
• If the oil temperature is not hot enough before adding the oysters, they will taste greasy, rather than light.
• Serve immediately with Hot Sauce.