Are you a seafood lover looking for a truly indulgent and unique culinary experience? Look no further than fresh oysters on the half shell! After all, this dish has been prized for centuries for its exquisitely remarkable flavor.
In general, the taste of oysters can be described as a delicate blend of salty, briny, and slightly sweet flavors, with a unique texture that is both firm and tender. And you’ll undoubtedly enjoy their delicious chewy texture. The shelled delight would be the icing on the cake. That said, oysters are much more than their sea-like burst of flavors, and you can add more to the mix.
Are you on board with oyster lovers and looking for creative ways to treat your friends to a real delicacy? Well, we have some mouth-watering recipes that will make your guests swoon.
Oysters in General: Things You Should Know About
Oysters are a common variety of bivalve mollusks. They can be found in saltwater or brackish water. However, the first thing you should know about oysters is that while most oysters are edible, not all oysters are safe to eat. Thus, it is essential to only consume oysters that have been harvested and handled under safe conditions, are fresh, and have been properly prepared.
One of the most popular types of edible oysters is the Blue Point oyster. These oysters are named after the location where they were first harvested, Blue Point, Long Island, New York. The oysters were first harvested in the late 1800s and quickly became a popular delicacy in the northeastern United States. Blue Point oysters are also caught in the Atlantic Ocean, Great South Bay, and Long Island Sound.
Oysters can be harvested for many reasons:
- We all know that pearls grow in oyster shells, and they can get you a handsome income
- Translucent shells are commonly used for decoration, hence another reason for harvesting.
Eating Oysters for the First Time?
Unlike chicken wings or ribs, oysters may seem tricky to eat when trying them for the first time. However, don’t fret!
When you see an oyster on its bed of ice, with its pale meat, it may not seem as appealing or delightful. But it would help if you tried it before you denied it.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Start by relaxing and grabbing a fork.
- Pick up the shell, and using your frock, loosen up the flesh.
- Using the broader end of the shell, tilt it in your mouth.
- Chew it at least once or twice before you gulp it down to receive the best flood of flavor.
How to Serve Fresh Oysters on the Half-Shell
Before searching for the best Blue Point oyster shell restaurants near you, try out these creative recipes that will keep you wanting more!
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Serve Them Raw
Purists prefer eating oysters raw, without seasoning. But if you want them to be a crowd-pleaser, you can serve them in unique and delicious ways.
To start with, you can squeeze a bit of lemon on it. You can also serve them with mignonette or even a red wine sauce. Always keep it simple and tasteful, and remember not to overdo it.
In case the taste of raw blue point oysters doesn’t seem like your cup of tea, you can also broil, grill, steam, roast, or even fry them. Blue Point oysters cost varies from place to place.
Let’s check out some impressive ways to serve cooked half-shell oysters!
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Bake Them
For this quick 10-minute recipe, you will need:
- 36 to 40 fresh blue-point oysters
- Finely chopped parsley, 3 tbsp.
- Minced garlic: 2 tbsp.
- Bread crumbs: 8 tbsp.
- Freshly grated parmesan, 4 tbsp.
- Melted butter: 5 tbsp.
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Step 1: Start by preheating the oven to 350 °F. Then separate the blue point oyster meat from the shell using a fork. Drain the flesh, and collect the juice in a bowl.
Step 2: Coat the oyster meat with bread crumbs and place the oyster meat back in its shell. Place this in the oven to bake for 5 to 6 minutes, until half-cooked.
Step 3: While your oysters bake, add garlic, parmesan, melted butter, salt, and pepper to the leftover oyster juice.
Step 4: Take out the half-baked oyster, drizzle the oyster juice mixture on the oysters, and bake them for another 5 to 6 minutes, until they are golden brown and crispy.
In the end, serve with a garnish of parsley.
3. Grill Them
This recipe is ideal for a summer BBQ and requires the following ingredients:
- Blue Point Oysters: 3 dozens
- Unsalted butter, 1 pound
- Extra-virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup
- Minced garlic, half cup
- 1/2 cup chopped parsley
- Parmesan, half cup
- Grated Pecorino Romano, half cup
- Crusty French bread for serving
How to Grill
Step 1: Begin by mixing butter, garlic, and olive oil in a saucepan and cooking it over medium-high until the butter is sizzling. Set aside to cool after adding the parsley.
Step 2: Proceed by applying the butter-garlic mixture to the oysters and grilling them on high for 5–6 minutes, until the oysters puff up. Top off with Parmesan and Romano.
Step 3: Work in batches and carefully take out cooked Blue Point oysters with tongs. Serve with French bread and a garnish of parsley.
4. Fry Them
Can’t get by without a fried meal? Then this easy recipe will become your favorite!
- Blue Point Oysters: 1 dozen
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- Corn Starch: half cup
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Oil of choice for frying
- Mayonnaise, half cup
- Dill pickle brine: 1 tsp.
- Dijon, 1 tbsp.
- Dill sprigs or radish sprouts
Follow these steps
Step 1: Make a mixture of cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper for coating. Coat each oyster individually in the flour mix and keep aside. Now, move on to the cooking part.
Step 2: Heat cooking oil to 350F and fry Blue Point oysters for 2–4 minutes, until soft and golden. Remove and pat dry with paper towels.
Step 3: To make the dipping sauce, mix mayonnaise, pickle brine, and dijon. Keep the oysters and spoon a dollop of the sauce on top of each, then garnish with radish sprouts or dill sprigs to serve.
Wrapping Up
You can eat raw oysters, but nothing beats cooking them for the perfect smokey flavor.
We hope our recipes provide insight into how to serve your half-shell oysters so they look like a total square meal in a little package.
