Oysters Rockefeller

Invented at Antoine's in New Orleans in 1889, oysters Rockefeller was named for John D. Rockefeller, one of the richest Americans at the time, for its rich sauce. Antoine's has kept the original recipe secret, but basically it includes a cream sauce with spinach and other greens, flavored with Pernod or anisette. This version omits the cream sauce but is still full of flavor.

3757705.jpg
Cook Time:
1 hrs 30 mins
Additional Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs 45 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 servings, 4 oysters each

Ingredients

  • 24 small-to-medium oysters

  • 6 cups gently packed baby spinach

  • 4 cups gently packed watercress, tough stems removed, or more spinach

  • 1 cup gently packed celery leaves or flat-leaf parsley leaves

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 2 scallions, finely chopped

  • 3 ounces Pernod or other licorice-flavored liqueur (about 6 tablespoons)

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce

  • cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Shuck oysters, discarding the flat top shells. Pour the oyster meat and the liquid left in each bottom shell (the oyster "liquor") into a bowl. Then pour through a fine-mesh sieve, transfer the liquid and the oyster meat to separate containers and refrigerate until ready to cook. Rinse the deep bottom shells to remove any grit and set aside.

  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add spinach, watercress (or additional spinach) and celery leaves (or parsley) and cook just until wilted, about 30 seconds. Drain and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking and set the bright green color. Squeeze out excess water. Chop the greens very finely.

  3. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped greens and scallions and cook, stirring, until the scallions are soft and any liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add the strained oyster liquor, Pernod (or other licorice liqueur), lemon juice and hot sauce and cook, stirring, until the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

  4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a shallow baking pan or a baking sheet with about 1/2 inch of rock salt (or coarse salt) or loosely crumpled foil to make a base for the oyster shells.

  5. Nestle each reserved shell in the prepared base so it will stay level. Place one oyster in each shell, evenly divide the green sauce among the oysters and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is lightly browned, 8 to 12 minutes.

Tips

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 1; refrigerate oyster meat and liquid separately for up to 1 day. Prepare the sauce (Steps 2-3), cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

Equipment: Rock salt, coarse salt or foil

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

147 Calories
7g Fat
11g Carbs
6g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 147
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 6g
Added Sugars 6g 12%
Protein 6g 12%
Total Fat 7g 8%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 41mg 14%
Vitamin A 3490IU 70%
Vitamin C 17mg 18%
Folate 42mcg 10%
Sodium 229mg 10%
Calcium 123mg 9%
Iron 4mg 21%
Magnesium 29mg 7%
Potassium 297mg 6%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Related Articles