Oysters Rockefeller

Recipe

• 48 oysters
• 1 ½ sticks butter, divided
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 4 tablespoons minced onion
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• ½ cup minced celery
• ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon leaves
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
• ⅔ cup toasted, fresh bread crumbs
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• rock salt

Preheat the oven to 450° F.

Scrub oysters with stiff brush under cold running water. Shuck and drain.

Melt 12 tablespoons butter in small saucepan. Add spinach, onion, parsley, celery, tarragon, cayenne, garlic powder, salt and Tabasco. Simmer about 5 minutes.

Spread layer of rock salt in baking pan. Place deep halves of oyster shells level on rock salt. Place oyster in each. Spread spinach mixture over each oyster. Combine bread crumbs and 3 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle over tops. Bake until oysters are done, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Contributed by Joyce Taylor  From: Mariner’s Menu: 30 Years of Fresh Seafood Ideas