23 April, 2007
Hangtown Fry
Posted in : Recipes, Seafood on by : SpiceGuy
Hangtown fry could possibly be the first California cuisine.
It consists of fried breaded oysters, eggs, and fried bacon, cooked together
like an omelet.
In the gold-mining camps of the late 1800s, Hangtown Fry was a one-skillet
meal for hungry miners who struck it rich and had plenty of gold to spend.
Live oysters would be brought to the gold fields in barrels of sea water after being gathered in and around San Francisco Bay.
Such a meal cost approximately $6.00, a fortune in those days. However it came to be, ordering a Hangtown Fry became a mark of prosperity for gold-rich miners, a status symbol of the day.
Ingredients
1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon milk
Breading mixture of cracker crumbs and/or bread crumbs
Oil
3 oysters, shucked
2 slices bacon
2 eggs
Directions
Dip the oysters in egg-wash and then breading. Pan-fry until cooked.( about a minute per side.
While doing this, fry the bacon in another skillet until just crisp.
Beat the eggs lightly. Place the cooked bacon like railroad tracks off-center in a
frying pan, pour a bit of the egg over the bacon. Place the oysters on the bacon and pour the remaining eggs over.
Cook slowly and then fold the omelet over to cover.
Makes 1 serving.