These are the oysters I served at our all local ingredient Christmas dinner party last week. If you head there and watch the video you’ll see Eric and I eating ours raw! But not everyone likes raw oysters, so here’s a really simple recipe for grilled oysters without a grill. We like cooking them under the broiler if it’s the middle of winter and we don’t want to go out in the cold to grill oysters. I’ll also walk you through how to preserve fresh oysters if they’re not being eaten immediately.
Typically when you buy fresh oysters they are kept on ice in the seafood market, but most of us don’t have a big bucket of ice to keep our oysters in! They are usually put into a plastic bag and wrapped in paper for you to take home. Whatever you do, DON’T leave them this way! Your oysters are still alive and will suffocate if left inside the bag.
First you want to rinse the oysters, they’ve got lots of grit on them that you probably don’t want to be eating. If you eat them out of the shell without a fork, you definitely want them clean.
Next spread the oysters out on a plate, this will give them room to breathe and make sure they’re kept moist.
Finally, cover the oysters with a wet towel and place in the fridge. Don’t worry about having open seafood in the fridge. Although they smell like the ocean, because they’re fresh it’s not a stinky fishy smell and won’t affect your other food. If you need help in opening the oysters, here’s a great video on how to shuck oysters. I actually used a paring knife and an oven mitt which you can see in my video of our event. I’m so excited that kumamotos are local oysters, because when Jaden and I had an oyster smorgasbord in San Francisco, those were definitely my favorite. The recipe below is adapted from Jaden’s recipe she shared with Elise. I always use rice to hold the oysters steady, though sea salt can work well too. It just keeps the juices from spilling out due to tipping oyster shells.
Broiled Oyster Recipe
Makes 24 oystersIngredients
24 whole live oysters
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
3 TBS unsalted butter
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes
1/4 tsp kosher salt
cracked black pepper to taste
1 TBS finely minced parsley (I used dried)
Instructions
Heat a small sauce pan over medium-low heat. When hot, add the butter. Once melted, add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the lemon juice, chili pepper flakes, salt, pepper and parsley. Turn off heat.
Preheat the broiler. Fill a rimmed baking sheet with a layer of rice and place the oyster cup side down in the rice. Place under the broiler for two minutes.
Remove the pan and holding each oyster with an oven mitt (I use one that actually fits on my hand like a mitten), shuck them with an oyster knife or paring knife. Toss the top shells and spoon a little of the sauce into each oyster. Return to under the broiler for 4-5 minutes longer.
You can slurp the oysters directly from the shell once it’s cooled a little, or eat them immediately with a fork (the meat is not as hot as the shell).
Approximate cost/serving: Oysters are a little pricey, these were $17 per dozen. That comes out to $1.42 per oyster, which sounds like a lot. But in a restaurant you can pay a good $6-10 for just two oysters! So this is a great option for a fancy meal or party when paired with really affordable sides. I’m planning to do oysters for our next fancy date dinner, they’re so good that it’s okay to just have 2-3 per person and savor them.
Gluten Free: recipe is completely gluten free
Sounds so fresh and tasty! Would you mind bringing some my way?
I made this recipe tonight for my husband and it was an absolute hit! I was out of plain red pepper flakes so I substituted chili garlic sauce. Served with a beautiful green salad and fresh garlic sourdough bread ……………… Amazing! Thank you for the great recipe.
“Fill a rimmed baking sheet with a layer of rice”…
I’m not a cook. What in the heck does this mean and what is it for? Are you supposed to eat the rice or something.
Hi Terrence, I understand how that could be confusing. In the post above I mention that I use the rice to hold the oysters steady, it’s just to nestle them in so they don’t tip and spill their lovely juices. You can toss it once your oysters are done.
We made these tonight but we added Parmesan cheese to the butter and it was delicious!!!
That sounds wonderful Victoria! Thanks for letting me know, and I look forward to hearing more from you in the future.
Made these tonight, but cooked bacon & crumbled into butter. Everyone loved them!
Great post! I’m going to try the recipe now. Just one suggestion — keep your oysters with the cupped side down. Even if they wobble on the plate (or I just stack them in a bowl with wet towel over). When they’re upside down like shown, it’s easier for the oyster liquor to seep out, which you don’t want. They look prettier cup side up, but you’ll be able to keep them longer in the fridge flipped over!
I love oyster stew one of the best ways to make it is I normally buy 2 cans of oysters or 2 cups from my seafood section in the grocery store. The reason I like canned is for the juices! I melt a half to 3/4 stick of butter then chop one medium yellow onion ( I prefer vidalias) heat that on med heat until onions are translucent then open and add your oysters juice and all if canned. Let this simmer on medium heat then add salt and I love plenty of cracked black pepper. Then add milk (any types you like vitamin A&D, 2% or Skim). Put enough milk in to have the consistency of soup. Use crackers if you like this is a great way to make oyster stew, and a quick filling dinner! Enjoy!
That sounds great, thanks for the recipe Kathy!