Fried Oysters with Zing

Summer / Fall / Winter / Spring / Appetizer / Deep-Fry / LouAna / Main Dish / Peanut Oil / Side Dish /

DESCRIPTION

These delicious fried oysters can be served alone, with fries or on a sandwich.

TOTAL TIME

20 minutes

SERVINGS

Serves: 4–8

INGREDIENTS

2 gallons LouAna® Peanut Oil
1 cup coarse-ground cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons sweet paprika
1 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt, plus 1/2 teaspoon
2/3 cup hot sauce, such as Tabasco® pepper sauce
1 large egg
1 1/2 lbs. shucked oysters*
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons grainy mustard
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
4 baguette pieces (8-inch baguettes)
4 lettuce leaves
4 thin slices of red onion
8 tomato slices, about ¼-inch thick
Cocktail sauce or Marie’s® Creamy Ranch Dressing, to serve as a side

*Fresh is best, but this recipe makes even canned oysters taste great.

DIRECTIONS

Instead of sandwiches, you can also fry the oysters to serve with cocktail sauce or Marie’s Creamy Ranch Dressing for an appetizer.

Pour LouAna Peanut Oil into a deep fryer; heat to 375°F. Combine cornmeal, flour, paprika and salt in a shallow dish. Combine hot sauce and egg in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add oysters to hot sauce mixture; dredge in cornmeal mixture.

Fry oysters at 375°F for 1 1/2 minutes or until done, turning once. Remove oysters.

For sandwiches, combine remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, mayonnaise, mustard and juice, stirring well. Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise mixture over cut sides of bread slices. Place 1 lettuce leaf on the bottom half of each bread slice; top with 1 red onion slice and 2 tomato slices. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper, if desired. Divide oysters evenly among sandwiches; place top halves of bread slices on each. Serve immediately.

SAFETY FIRST

There are two options when frying oysters. You can take the traditional approach and use propane fryers. They should be used outdoors in accordance with the manufacturer’s safety procedures. Never use them on a wooden deck or leave them unattended. The second option is to use a Masterbuilt® Electric Deep Fryer that can be used indoors on kitchen countertops, tables, inside garages, and on covered patios. Be sure to always keep children and pets away. But either way you choose, always remember:
• Wear oven mitts.
• Avoid use of alcohol and keep a fire extinguisher nearby, as you would with any type of cooking.

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