| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 1 hr 5 min |
| Prep: | 30 min |
| Inactive: | 15 min |
| Cook: | 20 min |
| Yield: | 4 po’ boys |
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise, such as Hellmann’s
- 1/4 cup minced roasted garlic
- 1 teaspoon regular hot dog mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 4 pinches ground black pepper
- Squeeze of lemon juice
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1 egg, beaten
- 24 medium-size oysters, shucked, liquid reserved (for the shrimp version, substitute 24 medium peeled raw shrimp)
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
- 2 to 3 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika
- 1 1/2 cups canola oil
- 4 soft 8-inch French or hoagie rolls, split
- 3 tablespoons garlic butter, softened (minced roasted garlic mixed with butter)
- 1 1/2 cups loosely packed shredded green cabbage
- 1/2 cup thin sliced deli-style dill pickles
- 2 to 3 red heirloom tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Instructions
- For the donkey sauce: Mix together the mayonnaise, roasted garlic, mustard, salt, Worcestershire, black pepper and lemon juice in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- For the wet soak: In a nonreactive bowl or gallon resealable bag, combine the buttermilk, hot sauce, basil, granulated garlic, white pepper and beaten egg and mix well. Add the oysters (or shrimp) and any liquid from shucking. Cover and refrigerate 15 minutes.
- For the breading and frying: In a shallow bowl, combine the panko, cornmeal, flour, dried basil, granulated garlic, 1 teaspoon of the sea salt, the black pepper, cayenne and paprika and mix well.
- Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil registers 350 degrees F.
- Drain the oysters (or shrimp) from the wet soak and dredge through the breading mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Carefully add to the hot oil in batches (do not crowd) and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate and season with the remaining 1 to 2 teaspoons sea salt while hot.
- For the sandwiches: Preheat the oven to a low broil. Butter the rolls with the garlic butter and place on a baking sheet. Broil until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Spread Donkey Sauce on both halves of each roll. Layer on the oysters, cabbage, pickles and tomatoes and top with the other half of each roll. Serve immediately.
Reviews
5 stars for levels of flavor, 3 stars because all the tasty breading fell off!
Follow Nancy’s advice here in her review! I will definitely make this again using the other breading method from the tv episode.
Instead of cabbage, I used Cole slaw. Fresh basil instead of dried.
The recipe as written here is completely different from what he demonstrated on the show. He did not soak the shrimp in the buttermilk and then in a mixture of pano breadcrumbs, cornmeal and flour. On the show he took the raw peeled shrimp and dredged it in flour seasoned with paprika, cayenne and granulated garlic. He next instructs to go “straight into the buttermilk bath, then they’ll go swimming in a pool of Panko breadcrumbs and cornmeal”. From there he drops them into the heated oil. This double-dredge method allows more of the panko and cornmeal mixture to stick and gives a crisper shrimp. Guy says to use this same method with the oysters. Nowhere was basil mentioned. The finished product as written did not give the crispy results of the double dredge. Very disappointing!
Made these for my family last night, never had better!
Great sandwich!! The sauce “kicks”!
I know whatever Guy cook it is good!