Casamento’s Fried Oyster Loaf Sandwich

Serves
serves 4
Time
40 minutes

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DENNY CULBERT

Purists eat this signature sandwich—overflowing with fried oysters—with nothing more than butter, hot sauce, a squeeze of lemon, and a cocktail sauce prepared at the table. This dressed version includes mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato.

Featured in: Celebrating 100 Hundred Years of Oysters at New Orleans Restaurant Casamento's

What You Will Need

Ingredients

2 tbsp. plus 1 1/2 tsp. ketchup
1 tbsp. prepared horseradish
¹⁄₂ tsp. fresh lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
2 tbsp. kosher salt, plus more as needed
Hot sauce
2 tbsp. (1 oz.) unsalted butter, at room temperature
8 thick slices soft white bread
Lard or vegetable oil, for frying
2 cups fine corn flour
40 large oysters, shucked (not rinsed)
¹⁄₄ cup mayonnaise
4 large tomato slices
4 large iceberg lettuce leaves
Dill pickle spears, for serving

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Instructions

Step 1

In a small bowl, whisk the ketchup, horseradish, and lemon juice. Season with kosher salt and a few dashes of hot sauce. Set aside.

Step 2

Preheat the broiler. Meanwhile, on a large baking sheet, lightly butter the bread slices on both sides.

Step 3

Fry the oysters: Line a baking sheet or platter with paper towels and set it by the stove. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot fitted with a deep-fry thermometer, add enough melted lard or oil to reach 4 inches up the sides of the pot. Begin preheating over medium-high heat.

Step 4

While the oil is preheating, prepare the first batch of oysters: In a shallow bowl, whisk the corn flour and 2 tablespoons of salt. Work with 10 oysters at a time: Dredge them in the flour mixture, pressing it onto the oysters to cover, then shake gently to remove any excess. When the oil reaches 350°F, add the prepared oysters in batches, and cook, stirring occasionally with a spider strainer or slotted metal spoon, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer the oysters to the baking sheet as you continue cooking the remaining oysters.

Step 5

While the last few batches of oysters are frying, broil the bread, turning once, until golden on both sides, about 1–5 minutes per side.

Step 6

Spread 4 of the toast slices with a tablespoon of the prepared sauce. Spread each of the remaining 4 slices with a tablespoon of mayonnaise. Place 10 oysters on each of the sauce-topped toasts, then add a slice of tomato, a few leaves of lettuce, and the remaining toasts. Serve with pickle spears, lemon quarters, and hot sauce, if desired.

In a small bowl, whisk the ketchup, horseradish, and lemon juice. Season with kosher salt and a few dashes of hot sauce. Set aside.
Preheat the broiler. Meanwhile, on a large baking sheet, lightly butter the bread slices on both sides.
Fry the oysters: Line a baking sheet or platter with paper towels and set it by the stove. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot fitted with a deep-fry thermometer, add enough melted lard or oil to reach 4 inches up the sides of the pot. Begin preheating over medium-high heat.
While the oil is preheating, prepare the first batch of oysters: In a shallow bowl, whisk the corn flour and 2 tablespoons of salt. Work with 10 oysters at a time: Dredge them in the flour mixture, pressing it onto the oysters to cover, then shake gently to remove any excess. When the oil reaches 350°F, add the prepared oysters in batches, and cook, stirring occasionally with a spider strainer or slotted metal spoon, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer the oysters to the baking sheet as you continue cooking the remaining oysters.
While the last few batches of oysters are frying, broil the bread, turning once, until golden on both sides, about 1–5 minutes per side.
Spread 4 of the toast slices with a tablespoon of the prepared sauce. Spread each of the remaining 4 slices with a tablespoon of mayonnaise. Place 10 oysters on each of the sauce-topped toasts, then add a slice of tomato, a few leaves of lettuce, and the remaining toasts. Serve with pickle spears, lemon quarters, and hot sauce, if desired.