Oysters give the beef a salty, subtle flavor. The
buttery top crust makes this dish old-fashioned
comfort food.
7 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion, chopped
4 ounces cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
11⁄2 pounds 93% lean ground beef
11⁄4 cups all-purpose fl our, plus additional for
dusting
1 cup beef broth
12 oysters, shucked, with their juices, or one
8-ounce container shucked oysters
2 teaspoons stemmed thyme or 1 teaspoon
thyme
2 teaspoons minced sage leaves or
1 teaspoon rubbed sage
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
1 to 2 tablespoons ice water
How to make
Beef and Oyster Casserole
Position the rack in the center of the oven and
preheat the oven to 375 F.
Melt 4 tablespoons (1⁄2 stick) unsalted butter in
a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook, stirring
often, until softened, about 3 minutes.
Add the mushrooms; continue cooking until
they give off their liquid and it almost all evaporates,
about 5 minutes, stirring often.
Crumble in the ground beef. Cook, stirring
often, until browned, about 5 minutes.
Sprinkle 1⁄4 cup fl our over the mixture in
the pan and cook, stirring all the while, for 1
minute.
Stirring constantly, slowly pour in the broth;
continue cooking and stirring until the sauce
comes to a boil and thickens slightly, about 1
minute.
Stir in the oysters, thyme, sage, 1⁄2 teaspoon salt,
and the pepper; cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes.
Pour into a 10-inch, 2-quart, round, highsided
casserole and set aside.
Place the remaining 1 cup fl our in a medium
bowl; stir in the remaining 1⁄2 teaspoon salt. Cut
in the shortening and the remaining 3 tablespoons
butter with a pastry cutter or a fork until the mixture
resembles coarse meal. Add 1 tablespoon ice
water; stir with a fork just until a dough begins to
form, adding more ice water as necessary.
Sprinkle the work surface with a little water,
then lay a large piece of wax paper over it. Lightly
fl our the wax paper, then turn the dough out
onto it. Knead once or twice to get the dough
to adhere, then dust it with fl our and pat it into
a fl attened ball. Roll into a circle that is 1 inch
wider than the diameter of the casserole.
Pick up the wax paper (and the dough circle
on it) and fl ip it over on top of the casserole. Peel
off the wax paper, leaving the dough on top of
the casserole. Seal it to the edges.
Bake until the topping is lightly browned
and the fi lling is bubbling underneath, about 40
minutes. Let stand at room temperature for 5
minutes before serving.