Rolled oyster
Photo: Southern Foodways Alliance · CC BY 2.0

History

Phillip Mazzoni and his Italian-immigrant brothers from Genoa opened Mazzoni's tavern at Third and Market in 1884, where they first served rolled oysters as a free giveaway to saloon patrons with a purchased beer or whiskey. The recipe combined three oysters with a unique pastinga batter, rolled in cracker crumbs and fried into a baseball-sized ball. The Mazzoni family held the recipe secret for five generations and the dish became a Louisville-only specialty. The last Mazzoni-family restaurant closed in 2011, ending a 127-year run, and the rolled oyster has become a rare find on Louisville menus since.

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Common allergens: Shellfish, Gluten, Egg

Make it at home

Yield 8Hands-on 30 minTotal 45 minDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 24 small shucked oysters, drained
  • 200g plain flour
  • 100g fine cornmeal
  • 2 eggs
  • 240ml whole milk
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • 200g cracker crumbs (saltine or oyster crackers, crushed fine)
  • Vegetable oil for deep frying

Method

  1. Whisk flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper together. In a separate bowl whisk the eggs and milk.
  2. Combine the wet and dry mixtures to make a thick pastinga batter. Let rest 10 minutes.
  3. Heat 7cm of vegetable oil to 180C in a heavy pot.
  4. Place three oysters in a small mound. Coat thickly in the pastinga batter to form a ball.
  5. Roll the batter-coated ball through the cracker crumbs until completely encased.
  6. Carefully lower the rolled oyster into the hot oil. Fry 4 to 5 minutes, turning once, until deep golden brown.
  7. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately, ideally with a beer or bourbon.

Tip from the editors. Keep the oil at a steady 180C; lower and the batter goes greasy, higher and the oysters overcook. Store-bought cracker crumbs for the right texture.

Where to eat rolled oyster

Rolled oyster in Louisville

Featured by TableJourney as a signature dish of Louisville. See where to eat Rolled oyster in Louisville or the Louisville signature dishes guide.

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