🦪 Dad’s Oysters Rockefeller

A family favorite passed down from my dad — a little different every time, and always unforgettable.

To celebrate National Oysters Rockefeller Day, I’m sharing my dad’s spin on this classic coastal dish. There’s no written recipe — just memories, notes scribbled by my husband, and snapshots I took from the sidelines one summer in Virginia Beach. It was a shuckin’ good time!

INGREDIENTS

• Raw oysters, shucked
• Rock salt (for baking base)
• Fresh spinach leaves
• Country ham (or crumbled bacon)
• Asiago cheese, grated or shredded
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Lemons
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
• Clean oyster shells (chef’s hint: save your shucked shells!)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Line a baking dish with rock salt to stabilize the shells.
3. Place clean oyster shells on top, curved side down.
4. Chop the country ham and parsley.
5. Grate or open the shredded asiago cheese.
6. Layer each shell in this order:
   
• 1 fresh spinach leaf
• 1 raw oyster
• A generous sprinkle of asiago cheese
• A spoonful of chopped country ham
• A pinch of panko breadcrumbs
  
7. Bake for 12–15 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
8. Garnish with chopped parsley.
9. Squeeze lemon juice over the top just before serving.
10. Serve warm & enjoy with your favorite people!

We hope you enjoy this delicious appetizer. Have questions or want to share your version? Drop a comment or send a note!

Much love from the coast,

Tracy Marie