OYSTERS THERMIDOR
Ingredients
- 24 native oysters in their shells
- 55g/2oz butter
- 1 shallot
- finely chopped
- 1 tbsp vermouth
- 140ml/4½fl oz chicken stock
- 140ml/4½fl oz fish stock
- 140ml/4½fl oz double cream
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- to taste
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 55g/2oz parmesan
- finely grated
- 200g/7oz samphire
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
- Open the oysters carefully
- retaining the juice. Cover the oysters with a clean cloth
- but do not refrigerate.
- Melt the butter in a pan and add the shallot. Cook gently without colouring.
- Add the vermouth
- oyster juice and stocks. Cook until the volume of liquid has reduced by two thirds.
- Add the cream and cook until the volume has reduced by half.
- Shuck the oysters
- pry them from the shells and set aside. Clean the deeper shells and lay them on a tray
- then put a little of the sauce in the base of each shell. Lay an oyster in each shell and transfer to the oven for two minutes. Preheat the grill to hot.
- Stir the mustard into the remaining sauce. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the egg yolks
- followed by the parsley and half of the parmesan.
- Take the oysters out of the oven and pour a little sauce over each one. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan over the top.
- Cook the samphire in a pan of boiling salted water for 1-2 minutes
- or until tender. Drain well.
- Meanwhile grill the oysters to glaze them. Serve with the samphire.

