Page 91 - All About History - Issue 186-19

On the Menu

OYSTERSROCKEFELLER

Did

you know?

OystersRockefeller
originated in New Orleans
in 1889asareplacement
forescargotwhensnail
supplieswerelow

Ingredients

O 12 fresh oysters in their shells
O 4 tbsp unsalted butter
O 1 small onion, finely chopped
O 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely
chopped
O 100g spinach, torn
O ½ tsp cayenne
O 100g breadcrumbs
O ¼ cup Pecorino Romano
O Lemon wedges to serve
O Rock salt

FINGER FOOD FOR THE SPEAKEASY ERA USA, 1920S

METHOD
hile Prohibition was intended to end
the sale and import of intoxicating

beverages into the United States, it 01 Fill two oven-proof baking dishes with rock salt. 04 Add the breadcrumbs and Pecorino Romano
Wactually pushed alcohol consumption You’ll be using these to broil the oysters later and and cook for one to two minutes until they have
underground and spawned an entirely new the salt will give you a malleable base on which to been incorporated into the mixture. Season with
industry: the speakeasy. These new drinking make sure the shells can be placed flat. salt and pepper to taste.
establishments were a fertile ground for 02 Having scrubbed the oyster shells clean, shuck the 05 Preheat your broiler at a high heat. Remove
experimentation, often having to make do with oysters over a bowl to collect the liquor as this your baking dishes from the fridge and begin
what booze they could get their hands on, will be used later. Discard the flat, top shell and topping each oyster with an even amount of
and this went for the food too. Finger foods separate the oyster from the curved lower shell. the spinach mixture.
became a popular accompaniment to cocktails Flip them over in the shell if you like for nicer 06 Place each tray under the broiler and cook for
like gin rickeys and sidecars as patrons looked presentation. Arrange them on the salted baking around five minutes or until the edges of the
to soak up the drinks with a little something. dishes and chill in the fridge. oysters begin to curl up and the mixture on
A relatively new recipe, Oysters Rockefeller, 03 In a saucepan melt the butter over medium heat. top is bubbling. It’s best to keep a close eye on
would have been particularly popular in regions Add the onion and parsley, cooking for two to proceedings as oven temperatures can differ.
with easy access to shellfish, offering a quick three minutes. Add the oyster liquor, cayenne and 07 Serve with lemon wedges and some additional
and easy bite with some added flavour. spinach. Cook on a low heat until the spinach wilts. parsley if desired. © Alamy

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