Chef John's Scalloped Oysters

Ingredients

• 3 cups crushed saltine crackers
• 0.75 cups unsalted butter , melted
• 4 cups shucked small oysters with liquor
• 0.13 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley
• 1 cup heavy cream

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

2. 2

   Combine saltine crackers and butter in a bowl; stir until all crumbs are saturated with butter.

3. 3

   Spread 1/3 of the saltines mixture on the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Pour half of the oysters with their liquor over the saltines mixture. Season with cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Repeat with next 1/3 of saltines and remaining oysters. Season with cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, and Italian parsley.

4. 4

   Sprinkle remaining saltines mixture over the oysters. Drizzle cream slowly and evenly over the top.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling and browned, 40 to 45 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.