Cornmeal-Fried Oyster Sandwich With Lemon Tartar Sauce

Ingredients

Lemon Tartar Sauce

• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 2/3 cup peanut oil or vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped drained caper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped red onions
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped dill pickles
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle juice, from the jar
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (to taste)

Spicy Cornmeal Flour

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 4 1/2 teaspoons cayenne
• 4 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon celery seed

Sandwich

• 2 dozen pacific oysters, scubbed, rinsed, and shucked
• 4 pieces French bread, cut into 6-to 8-inch sandwich lengths
• butter lettuce leaf
• peanut oil, for frying

Directions

1. 1

   Tartar sauce: Add egg yolk, mustard, and lemon juice to a food processor or blender; pulse to combine.

2. 2

   With the processor running, slowly add the oil in a steady stream; the mixture will become thick and emulsified.

3. 3

   Add in the capers, onions, pickles, pickle juice, parsley, lemon zest, and Tabasco; pulse to combine.

4. 4

   Transfer to a small bowl and set aside, refrigerated.

5. 5

   Cornmeal Flour: combine the flour, cornmeal, and seasonings; set aside.

6. 6

   Panfry the oysters: dredge oysters in the seasoned cornmeal flour (you can leave them in the bowl of flour until you are ready to panfry them.

7. 7

   Shake off any excess flour just before frying.

8. 8

   Set up your sandwiches so they can be assembled as soon as the oysters are fried.

9. 9

   Split the French bread rolls lengthwise.

10. 10

    For each sandwich, spread the tartar sauce generously on both sides of the bread; line the top half of the roll with lettuce leaves.

11. 11

    You will need to use a large nonstick saute pan; cover the bottom of saute pan with a thin layer (1/8 inch) of peanut oil.

12. 12

    Over high heat, heat the oil until very hot.

13. 13

    Fry the oysters in the hot oil on both sides until golden brown and firmed up, about 4 minutes total.

14. 14

    Drain the oysters on paper towels.

15. 15

    Place 6 fried oysters on the bottom half of each roll; put the lettuce-line half on top to make a sandwich; serve immediately.