Deep-Fried Oysters With Hot Sauce

3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne
salt and pepper
2 dozen oysters, shucked and drained
oil (for deep frying)
For Hot Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise (or half mayonnaise and half sour cream)
3 tablespoons prepared horseradish, preferable freshly grated
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon sugar
salt
white pepper
1-2 tablespoon lemon juice

1. Mix together the ingredients for sauce.
2. Cover closely and refrigerate for several hours to allow the flavors to blend.
3. Mix the cornmeal with cayenne, salt and pepper to taste.
4. Dredge the oysters in cornmeal.
5. Deep fry in batches in oil heated to 375 degrees for about 2 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately, with hot sauce.

Fried is the only way I'll eat an oyster. I usually have them with tartar sauce, but this mayo based hot sauce sounds good.

I'll say this for oysters - they'll go through a batch of oil like nothing else. One oyster cooking is all a pot of oil is good for. Must be all the juices in the oysters.

That oyster recipe does sound good, the only way I have ever had them was in stew, raw or rockerfeller.

This recipe is one of only 4 ways I'll eat oysters. The others are in gumbo, jambalaya or chowder, all depending on how made.