Author Notes
Sometimes, its nice to take tradition and flip it on its head. The oyster po' boy sandwich is an old favorite of mine - a seaside comfort food that stirs up memories of overcast Half Moon Bay weather, a cold brew, and a bonfire. I wanted to find a way to turn this classic into a one-bite wonder. So, I decided to take all of its magical parts, shrink them down, and well, turn them inside out. Thus, the oyster po' boy pop was born. Minced oyster mixed with diced jalapeno, tangerine juice, and horseradish, dipped in a thick coating of cornmeal, and then crisped to perfection. They are the perfect size for an appetizer and I for one will be busting them out for my Super Bowl party. You can't go wrong with spicy, fried food on a stick. And while you may be thinking, oysters? Has Sodium Girl gone loco? The real surprise treat is that these little ocean gems from the Pacific are only 90mg per 3oz. High impact taste and very low sodium. I used Tomales Bay oysters for this recipe. —Sodium Girl
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Ingredients
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6
oysters, shucked (there are some great videos on YouTube)
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1
jalapeno, diced
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1
tangerine
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2 tablespoons
horseradish, prepared
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1
egg, whisked
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2 cups
cornmeal
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1 cup
flour
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1 tablespoon
dried herbs, like chive or parsley
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2-3 cups
canola oil, or enough so that the pops are more than halfway submerged
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parsley, lemon, and horseradish for plating
Directions
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Roughly chop the shucked oysters into 1/4 inch chunks.
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In a small bowl, mix the horseradish, juice from the tangerine, jalapenos, and chopped oysters. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty.
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In another bowl, mix the cornmeal, flour, and dried herbs. This is your coating. In a third bowl, prepare the whisked egg. Now you are ready to fry.
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Heat canola oil in a high-sided pan over high heat. You will want it to reach 360 degrees before dipping in your pops, but if you do not have a thermometer, you can test the heat by throwing in a little of the cornmeal to see if the oil spits and it turns to a nice golden brown.
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While the oil is heating, begin prepping your oyster pops. Take a teaspoon size scoop of the oyster/jalapeno/juice/horseradish mixture and plop into the dry ingredients. Squish and mold until you have formed a ball. It should have a thick enough cornmeal/flour coating that it holds together.
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Dip the ball into the egg mixture.
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Dip back into the cornmeal/flour again for a second coating. Set aside on a plate and repeat until all of the oyster/jalapeno/juice/horseradish mixture has been used. If the cornmeal and flour gets too clumpy, add some more.
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When oil is ready, carefully lower the pops (2-4 at a time, depending on size of the pan) and let them crisp for 2 minutes on either side.
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Remove from oil and let dry on a paper towel.
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Place on a plater with desired accoutrements, serve, and watch them disappear.
In January of 2004, I received a diagnosis that changed my life. I was diagnosed with Lupus, an autoimmune disease that in my case attacked my kidneys and brain. Due to the intensity of the initial “flare up” of the disease, I became renal insufficient and eventually faced kidney failure. Amazingly, through great medicine, wonderful family and friends, and an enormous amount of support, I became stronger and healthier and miraculously, my kidneys partially regenerated. I no longer depend on dialysis and by regulating my diet, I depend on fewer medications. Five years later, I work part time and live a full and utterly enjoyable life. My dietary restrictions have transformed into a real passion for food and I hope to be able to pass along my favorite finds to others facing similar dietary challenges. Be creative, be friendly, and be full!
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