Dinner: Oysters Bienville

Recipe by /contributors/leon-e-soniat-jr Editor's note: Oysters Bienville is usually served as an appetizer. Created at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans, it is also found on many menus throughout the city and there are several versions. This one by th

Ingredients

1 bunch shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
2/3 cup chicken broth
1 egg yolk
Ice cream salt
1/3 cup dry white wine
Salt and cayenne pepper to taste
2 dozen oysters on the half shell
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Sauté the chopped shallots in the butter and slowly stir over a very low heat until the onions are well cooked, but not brown. Sprinkle the shallots with the flour and cook until the flour begins to brown. Add the chicken broth and the mushrooms and mix well. Beat the egg yolk into the wine and add to the chicken broth mixture, beating all the while. Season with the salt and cayenne, and cook over a low heat for 15 minutes.
Heat a pan of ice cream salt in a 400-degree oven for 15 minutes. Place the oysters on the half shell in the hot ice cream salt and return to the oven for about 5 minutes. Spoon the sauce over each oyster and sprinkle with a mixture of the bread crumbs and cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the bread crumb mixture is lightly browned. Two dozen oysters served this way will serve four.

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