Best Fried Oysters Cracker Crumb Coating Recipes

FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• For the Tartar Sauce: Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer to 350°F, in a deep cast iron skillet, or in a Dutch oven over medium heat to a depth of about 2-3 inches, until it reaches 350°F. If you don't have a deep-fry thermometer, sprinkle a few drops of water on the hot oil. If it sizzles, the oil is hot enough.
• Drain the oysters in a colander and pat dry with paper towels. Use a toothpick to poke a small hole in the large round part of each oyster.
• Put the buttermilk in a shallow dish. In a separate shallow dish, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, Old Bay seasoning and pepper.
• Add the oysters to the buttermilk and soak for a few minutes. Remove the oysters from the buttermilk, gently shake off excess liquid, and dredge in cornmeal mixture to coat on all sides. Shake off excess breading and transfer to a wire rack.
• Working in batches so that you don't overcrowd the pan, fry oysters until golden and crispy, about 2-3 minutes. Drain on paper towels, season with additional salt and pepper (if necessary) while they're still warm, and serve hot with tartar sauce or other dipping sauce.

FRIED OYSTERS (CRACKER CRUMB COATING)

Steps:

• Dip oysters in egg then dredge in cracker crumbs.
• Let sit in fridge for 2 hours.
• Stir together ketchup, horseradish, and hot sauce (to taste) and chill.
• Fry oysters in 1" oil at 350F 3-4 minute until golden.
• Serve immediately with sauce.

SKILLET-FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Heat the butter and oil in a skillet. Roll the oysters in the egg and crackers crumbs and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute the oysters, turning once, until golden brown. Sprinkle the parsley or paprika on top and garnish with lemon.

OYSTER CRACKER CRUSTED FISH STICKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut the fish into 1/2-inch strips (you should get about 24 to 30 pieces). Season all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper.
• Spread the flour in a shallow bowl. Beat the eggs in a second shallow bowl with a pinch of salt. Put the crackers in a food processor and pulse to mostly fine crumbs, about the consistency of panko with a few larger crumbs mixed in (you can also crush the crackers in a plastic bag with a rolling pin.) Toss the crumbs in a third shallow bowl with the dried chives, dried dill, dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and several grinds of pepper.
• Dredge the fish, a few pieces at a time, in the flour, then beaten egg letting the excess drip back into the bowl. Roll to coat thoroughly in the crumbs then place each piece on the prepared baking sheet, about an inch apart.
• Once all of the fish is coated, spray liberally all over with olive oil spray. Bake until the crumbs are crisp and golden and the fish is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove to a platter and serve with the tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
• Add the mayonnaise, pickles, lemon juice, parsley, capers, dill, and sugar in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate to allow the flavors to blend while you make the fish sticks.

BUTTER-FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat, then raise the heat a little and cook at a bare simmer for about 10 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, then pour through a fine-meshed strainer. (Save any milky juices, solids or foam left behind to add to rice or vegetables.) The clarified butter can be kept in a covered jar in the refrigerator for several weeks.
• Remove the crusts from the French loaf. Tear the bread into chunks and pulse in a food processor or blender to make about 4 cups of crumbs. The crumbs will keep in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for several days, or for longer in the freezer, tightly wrapped.
• Season the flour generously with salt and pepper. Dip the oysters in the flour and then in the beaten eggs. Spread a layer of bread crumbs on a baking sheet. Place the oysters on the sheet and sprinkle with more crumbs. Roll the oysters in the crumbs so that they are well coated, adding more if necessary.
• Heat a wide cast-iron skillet over a medium-high flame. Add clarified butter to a depth of 1/2 inch. Toss in a bread crumb - if it browns quickly the butter is hot enough. Carefully slip in breaded oysters in a single layer, frying in batches if needed to avoid crowding. Adjust the heat to keep the oysters gently bubbling in the butter. It should take about 2 minutes to get a golden, crisp coating. Turn the oysters and brown the other side, then drain on kitchen towels. Serve hot with red-pepper mayonnaise, lemon wedges and arugula or watercress, if you like.

DEEP FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Heat deep fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Combine flour, salt and black pepper. Dredge oysters in flour mixture, dip in egg and roll in bread crumbs.
• Carefully slide oysters into hot oil. Cook five at a time until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain briefly on paper towels. Serve hot.

MOM'S FRIED FISH

Steps:

• Place eggs and cracker crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Dip fillets into eggs, then coat with crumbs. Let stand for 5 minutes. , In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry fillets, a few at a time, for 2 minutes on each side or until fish is golden brown and flakes easily with a fork. Drain on paper towels. , In a small bowl, combine the tartar sauce ingredients. Serve with fish.

BAKED COD WITH BUTTERY CRACKER TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Put the crackers in a medium bowl and use your hand to crush them until they are finely crushed. (Some coarser bits are OK.) Add 4 tablespoons of the melted butter, the chives, parsley, lemon zest and onion and garlic powders, and stir to evenly combine, making sure to moisten all the crumbs.
• Put the fish fillets in a large, ovenproof skillet. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon butter over the fish and turn to coat. Season the fish on all sides with salt and pepper. Mound the cracker mixture on top of the fish, covering it. (Some cracker crumbs will fall off the fish.)
• Roast in the oven for 10 to 16 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. Plan for about 10 minutes per inch; the fish should flake easily, and the juices should be bubbly around the edges. Squeeze the lemon juice over the top. Sprinkle with paprika, and serve with extra lemon wedges on the side.

PAN-FRIED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Drain oysters; blot oysters dry on paper towels.
• In a small bowl, beat the eggs slightly.
• Place flour and cracker crumbs on separate sheets of waxed paper.
• Lightly coat oysters in flour; shake off the excess; dip into egg, then in crumbs, pressing crumbs to adhere.
• Place on a sheet of waxed paper.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over med-high heat until butter is melted.
• Add 1/3 of the oysters; saute 2 minutes or until golden brown.
• Turn oysters and saute another 2 minutes.
• Remove to a baking sheet lined with paper towels; keep warm in low oven.
• Wipe skillet clean; fry remaining oysters in 2 batches; serve warm.