Crispy Oyster Salad | The Local Palate | The Local Palate is the South’s premier food culture publication.

By LRay

The Local Palate, February 2016, page 106.

Ingredients

• Crispy Oyster Salad
• 2 Bibb lettuce heads
• 1 fennel bulb, plus fronds for garnish
• 2 red radishes
• 24 oysters, shucked
• 2 cups self-rising flour
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup Buttermilk Ravigote (recipe follows)
• 1 cup Pickled Onions (recipe follows)
• Pickled Onions
• 1 white onion, cut into 1/8-inch slices
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 clove garlic
• Buttermilk Ravigote
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 4 tablespoons Creole mustard
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons Crystal hot sauce
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives
• 1 tablespoon chopped dill
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Details

Servings 1
Adapted from thelocalpalate.com

Preparation

Step 1

Trim root ends of lettuce heads and separate all leaves. Wash leaves in very cold water and dry well.

Using Japanese mandoline, shave fennel and radishes paper-thin. Refrigerate lettuce with shaved fennel and radish until needed.   

Preheat tabletop fryer to 350 degrees. Dust oysters in flour and deep fry 1 minute. Drain fried oysters on paper towel-lined tray and season with salt and pepper.

Toss lettuce, fennel, and radishes in large mixing bowl with olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Spoon 2 tablespoons of Buttermilk Ravigote into 4 large bowls. Divide lettuce and vegetables into 4 equal portions and place on top of Ravigote. Top each lettuce mound with 6 fried oysters. Garnish with 6 slices Pickled Onions and fennel fronds.

Pickled Onions

Place onion slices in pint jar. Heat remaining ingredients in medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves and pour over onions. Let cool to room temperature then refrigerate until needed.

Buttermilk Ravigote

Whisk together all ingredients and refrigerate until needed.