Oyster and Artichoke Stuffed Pastries

Ingredients
- 3 packages frozen pastry shell (3 to a pack)
- 2 jars fresh oysters (1 dozen good size oyster meat)
- 6 large brown or white mushrooms
- 1/2 large red onion or 1 medium
- 1 can artichoke buttons
- 1/2 cup chardonnay or other similar white wine
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 stick butter or canola oil
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 ounces heavy cream
- Salt, red and black pepper to taste
- Tony's or other Cajun seasoning to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Dice onion, mushroom, and artichoke. Dice oyster by cutting each one once lengthwise and a few times crosswise. Press or mince garlic.
- Bake puff pastry shells according to directions. You should be able to do 18 at once (2 trays of 9) in one oven. They take about 25 minutes to cook.
- While the shells cook, heat half of the butter (or some canola oil if omitting the butter) in a pan over low-medium heat and then add onions, sweating the onions until they start to turn translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add garlic and continue to cook until the smell of garlic is apparent, about 1 minute. Then add mushroom and artichoke, cook until the mushroom begin to give up liquid. Continue to cook until liquid evaporates, about 8-10 minutes, then add oysters, oyster liquor and white wine, scraping any brown bits off the bottom of the pan as the liquid cooks off. Continue to cook until most of the liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes.
- Add the rest of the butter (or a bit more oil) and the flour, stirring to coat the mixture in the pan. Add the cream (or milk, if you prefer) and stir the mixture. It should quickly thicken to a creamy texture. If it’s a bit thin, continue to cook over low-medium heat to reduce. Once thickened, remove from heat and season with salt, red and black pepper, and Cajun seasoning to taste.
- The puff pastry shells should be done at about the same time as the filling. Once the filling cools slightly (but is still nice and warm), fill the shells with the oyster mixture and serve immediately.
Common Problems and Solutions
Q: Why is my filling watery instead of creamy?
A: Make sure to cook off most of the liquid after adding the wine and oyster liquor before adding the flour and cream. The flour needs time to cook into the mixture and thicken properly. If it's still thin, continue cooking over low heat to reduce.
Q: Can I make the filling ahead of time?
A: Yes, you can make the filling up to a day ahead and refrigerate it. Reheat gently before filling the freshly baked pastry shells. Don't fill the shells until just before serving or they'll get soggy.
Q: My pastry shells are getting soggy. What went wrong?
A: Fill the shells just before serving, and make sure the filling isn't too hot or too liquidy. If you need to prep ahead, keep the filling and shells separate until the last minute.
Tips and Techniques
Don’t rush the sweating of the onions—this builds the flavor base. Make sure to scrape up all the flavorful brown bits from the pan when you add the wine and oyster liquor. The filling should be thick enough to hold together in the shells but still moist and creamy.
Ingredient Substitutions
- fresh oysters: canned oysters, drained
- puff pastry shells: phyllo cups or vol-au-vents
- heavy cream: whole milk or half-and-half
- chardonnay: dry vermouth or additional oyster liquor
Equipment Needed
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Baking sheets (2)
- Knife and cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
Historical Context
Oysters and artichokes are a classic Louisiana combination, often found in elegant Creole dishes. Both ingredients were historically abundant in Louisiana—oysters from the Gulf and artichokes grown in the French-influenced gardens of New Orleans.




