The original recipe for Oysters Rockefeller was from the New Orleans restaurant Antoine’s. It was named after John D. Rockefeller because both he and the dish were so rich! My friend Sarah Chase’s next door neighbor Walter Kaess came up with the brilliant shortcut to use frozen creamed spinach when he makes Oysters Rockefeller.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Crinkle aluminum foil deeply on a sheet pan so it will hold the oysters level in the shells without tipping over. Nestle the oysters on the foil in one layer, making sure their juices stay in the shells.
Melt the butter over medium heat in a small (8-inch) sauté pan. Add the shallots and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes, until tender and beginning to brown. Add the Pernod, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook for 2 to 3 minutes to reduce the liquid. Stir in the spinach and cook for 2 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed. Taste for seasonings.
Place 1/2 tablespoon of the spinach mixture on each oyster. Sprinkle the oysters evenly with the Parmesan and Gruyère. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, until the spinach is hot and the cheese is melted. The oysters should be warm but not cooked through. Sprinkle with fleur de sel and serve hot on small plates with small forks.
Cook’s Note
If you can’t find Seabrook frozen creamed spinach, you can use one (10-ounce) package of Green Giant frozen creamed spinach instead.
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Reprinted from Go-To Dinners, Copyright 2022 by Ina Garten, Clarkson Potter/Publisher. All rights reserved.
Tools You May Need
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