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Oysters, oyster mornay and cockle chowder

Credit: The Hairy Bikers Oysters, oyster mornay and cockle chowder

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Oysters, oyster mornay and cockle chowder
Ingredients

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  • For the oyster mornay:
  • 24 x oyster(s), shucked & turned presentation side up in shell
  • 60g butter, unsalted
  • 2tbsp flour, plain
  • 500ml milk, full-fat
  • 110g cheddar, strong, grated
  • 2tbsp parsley, curley variety; finely chopped
  • For the traditional oysters:
  • oyster(s), as many as you like; either native or rock varieties
  • 3tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 5tbsp shallots, finely chopped
  • Tabasco sauce, to taste
  • Worcestershire sauce, to taste
  • 1 x lemon(s), cut into wedges
  • ice, for the platter
  • For the Essex cockle chowder:
  • 400g cockles, cooked picked, OR
  • 1kg cockles, raw, cockles in the shell
  • 25g butter, unsalted
  • 1tbsp olive oil
  • 4 x bacon rashers, streaky, shredded fine
  • 1 x onion(s), large; finely diced
  • 250ml wine, dry white
  • 3 x potato(es), floury; peeled & cubed
  • 500ml milk
  • 2tbsp parsley, curley variety; finely chopped
  • 1tbsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped
  • 2tbsp double cream
Method

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Make sure you source top quality fresh oysters. If any of the oysters are dry inside when they are shucked, discard them. Shucking oysters can be dangerous so make sure you use a thick tea-towel to hold the oyster and open them using a short-bladed knife from the narrow end of the shell.

Method for the oyster mornay

1. Preheat the grill to high.

2. Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the flour and cook out for a few minutes.

3. Stir in the milk until a thick white sauce is made.

4. Stir in half the cheese and check the seasoning.

5. Place the oysters in rows in a grill pan, place a spoonful of cheese sauce onto each oyster, sprinkle the remaining cheese onto the top.

6. Grill until golden.

7. Scatter with parsley sprinkles and serve.

Method for the traditional oysters

1. Shuck the oysters, keeping all the juices inside.

2. Whisk the red wine vinegar and shallots together in a ramekin and set aside for 5 minutes to infuse.

3. Take a large dish and cover in crushed ice. This will help hold the oysters steady and also keep them cool.

4. Arrange the oysters on the ice and present with the ramekin of red wine vinegar and shallots, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce and lemon wedges.

Method for the Essex cockle chowder

1. In a big saucepan, heat the butter and the olive oil, add the bacon and cook until coloured.

2. Add the onion and sweat until transparent, this will take about 5 minutes and set aside.

3. If using raw cockles wash the cockles well, you could place them in a bowl of water, with some bran or porridge oats for a few hours and they will clean themselves inside and out – either way, rinse them thoroughly.

4. Add the wine to the pan and bring to a rolling boil.

5. Add the cockles and boil for a few minutes.

6. You’ll know when the cockles are cooked as the shells will open.

7. Lift out the cockles using a slotted spoon and set aside to cool, retaining the cooking liquor.

8. Pick the cockles from the shells discarding any that have not opened.

9. If using ready cooked, simply add the wine to the pan and reduce by half.

10. Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan, part-boil the potatoes for about 5 minutes until just soft.

11. Strain and set aside.

12. Place the cockle/bacon juice in a sauce pan, bring to a simmer and add the milk and the potatoes.

13. Simmer until the potatoes just start to disintegrate.

14. Add the cooked cockles, parsley, thyme and cream.

15. Cook for a couple of minutes, don’t overcook the cockles.

16. Season to taste with the sea salt flakes and ground white pepper.

Serve with a hunk of sour dough bread and butter.

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