'Wich of the Week: Fried Oyster Po'boy

Ingredients

1 dozen fresh fried oysters
1 small loaf French bread (about 1 foot long)
1/4 cup salt butter
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
2 slices tomato
Mayonnaise (optional)
Tabasco (optional)
Salt (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare the fried oysters according to the recipe for Fried Oysters in Corn Meal.
2. Slice the French bread in half across and then in half lengthwise.
3. Place in a 300 degree oven to warm for about 6 minutes.
4. Spread butter generously over the inner surfaces of the bread and heap the fried oysters on the bottom pieces.
5. Add mayonnaise and Tabasco, or just a bit of salt if you prefer, and cover with the top pieces of bread. Serve hot.

Makes one sandwich.

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Ingredients

1 1/2 pints fresh shucked oysters (about 2 1/2 dozen medium-sized oysters)
Vegetable oil for deep frying
1 cup finely ground yellow corn meal
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon fresh, finely ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne

Directions

1. Drain the oysters thoroughly in a colander. Meanwhile, heat the oil to 375 degrees in a deep fryer.
2. In a bowl combine the corn meal, salt, black pepper, and cayenne and mix thoroughly.
3. Roll the drained oysters about 6 to 8 at a time in the seasoned corn meal, taking care to coat each one evenly and thoroughly.
4. Fry the oysters in batches of 6 to 8, taking care to keep the frying temperature between 360 and 375 degrees; wait a few minutes after frying a batch for the oil temperature to rise again to the desired level. (If you use a heavy kettle or saucepan, be sure to clip a deep frying thermometer to the side of it and to adjust the burner heat to keep the oil temperature constant.) Fry each batch of oysters for about 2 minutes, or until golden brown.
5. When done, drain thoroughly by raising the frying basket out of the oil or by using a long-handled skimmer.
6. Place each cooked batch on a large platter lined with paper towels, then set in a preheated 200 degree oven to keep warm until all the oysters are fried.

Makes 2 1/2 dozen fried oysters.

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