Maple syrup gives a deliciously different twist to the dressing for this Oysters Kilpatrick dish. Combined with Worcestershire sauce, tabasco, and crispy smoked streaky bacon for a savoury crunch, maple syrup is a naturally healthy sweetener that produces a very more-ish oyster dressing.
Look out in the shops for Pure Canadian maple syrup, the real deal, not “maple-flavoured” blends. Pure Canadian maple syrup is 100% natural with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Four grades of Canadian maple syrup are available. An amber syrup — one of the lighter ones in colour but with a rich flavour – is best suited to this recipe. These Oysters Kilpatrick with Maple Dressing make a great festive dish.
Oysters Kilpatrick With Maple Dressing
Serves 4
12 fresh oysters
4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
3 tbsp pure maple syrup (preferably amber syrup for its rich taste)
2 dashes Tabasco sauce
3 slices smoked streaky bacon
500g rock salt
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. If the oysters are not already shucked, open them up with an oyster knife and discard the top of the shell. Rinse the oysters under cold running water, removing any shell and grit. Drain excess liquid.
Sit the oyster in the bottom cup-like part of the shell, loosen the oyster if attached.
Mix Worcestershire sauce, maple syrup and Tabasco together, set aside.
Finely chop the bacon into thin strips. Warm a small frying pan and cook the bacon until the bacon is cooked and just starting to crisp.
Nestle the oysters in the salt to keep them level. Spoon roughly a teaspoon of the sauce over each oyster then top with a few pieces of bacon (exactly how much of each depends on the size of the oyster).
Place the oven dish with the oysters in the oven for around 8 to 10 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the bacon slightly crisped.
Once cooked, serve the oysters in the shell with a slice of lemon on the side. Transfer oysters in its bottom shell to a bed of rock salt or crushed ice, keeping the shell level.
Recipe and image courtesy of Maple From Canada and reproduced with permission.