18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (2024)

These oyster recipes are destined to shine on your table throughout the year — not just in months ending in "r". Oysters are spectacular when served on the half-shell with a squeeze of citrus, but also make the meal when grilled, fried, stirred into soup like this Smoky Oyster Chowder with Bacon, Rosemary, and Fennel, or even dried then softened, as for these Lettuce Wraps with Dried Oysters. We've got loads of ways to cook and serve the briny delicacies; scroll on for more oyster recipes to celebrate the mollusk.

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Poached Oysters with Pickled Cucumber and Caviar

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (1)

At The Sportsman in England, chef Stephen Harris celebrates the restaurant's close proximity to the beach and some of the best oyster beds in the country. Here he poaches the oysters in their own liquor before putting them back in the shells and topping with creamy beurre blanc, tangy pickled cucumber, and briny caviar.

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Oysters on the Half Shell with Rosé Mignonette

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (2)

Great oysters are delicious "naked," as Island Creek founder Skip Bennett says, but sometimes chef Jeremy Sewall dresses them up with a mignonette (vinegar sauce) like this one, made with sparkling rosé.

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Grilled Oysters with Spicy Tarragon Butter

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (3)

Chef Bobby Flay tops his oysters with a blend of butter, tarragon, and hot sauce, then returns them to the grill so the butter melts into little pools in the shells.

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04of 18

Shrimp and Smoked Oyster Chowder

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (4)

There are several tricks to this terrific chowder from chef Linton Hopkins of Holeman and Finch Public House in Asheville, North Carolina. He adds potato chunks to the broth for thickness, then pours in a little naturally low-fat buttermilk for creamy tanginess. And instead of fatty bacon, he uses smoked oysters to give the chowder a slightly woodsy flavor.

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Barbecued Oysters with Smoky Uni Butter

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (5)

Briny uni and acidic lemon combined with smoky paprika and rich butter make an extraordinary flavored butter to top oysters before roasting. If shucking oysters isn't your thing, ask your fishmonger to do the job for you.

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Oysters with Yuzu Kosho Mignonette

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (6)

This simple chilled appetizer combines citrusy and slightly spicy yuzu kosho with briny oysters on the half shell. Yuzu kosho is an intensely flavored fermented Japanese condiment that’s made with yuzu, chiles, and salt. When mixed with mild rice vinegar and shallot, it’s transformed into a mignonette-style condiment that complements both East and West Coast oysters.

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Oysters Rockefeller

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (7)

First created at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans in 1899, this famous baked oyster dish was named for the Rockefeller family because of its incredibly rich sauce. Try making it at home with star chef Emeril Lagasse's expert recipe.

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Oyster Casserole with Cracker Crumbs

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (8)

In this quick, simple recipe from Marion Cunningham's iconic The Fannie Farmer Cookbook, tender and juicy oysters are drizzled with a bit of cream and hot sauce, then baked under a sumptuous, buttery crumb mixture for a bit of crunch. Serve this dish as an appetizer for a dinner party, or as a side dish with ham or turkey. For individual servings, the mixture can be divided among four ramekins instead of a large baking dish.

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09of 18

Andouille, Crab, and Oyster Gumbo

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This sensational seafood-packed gumbo comes from TV personality and F&W contributor Andrew Zimmern. It's terrific in its simplicity, with a foolproof roux (the mix of fat and flour that is the basis for all gumbos) that requires just 15 minutes of stirring instead of the usual hour.

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Grilled Oysters with Chorizo Butter

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (10)

No shucking necessary: Once the oysters open on the grill, simply top them with chef David Kinch's smoky, tangy butter.

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Oyster Tartare Sauce with Potato Chips

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (11)

This ingenious, briny sauce couldn't be simpler: Chef René Redzepi purees raw oysters with a little of their liquor, plus rice vinegar and oil. He adds diced blanched vegetables for texture, then serves the dip with potato chips.

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Taiwanese Oyster Omelet

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (12)

Chef Ruth Reichl discovered that this wonderful combination of flavors tastes even better made with small, freshly shucked oysters. If you want to save a little time, pick up some sweet chile sauce from your local Asian market. Or, follow her recipe, which makes more than what you need for these omelets and keeps for months in the refrigerator.

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Clam and Oyster Pan Roast

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (13)

This brothy, aromatic seafood dish from chef Vivian Howard of Chef & the Farmer in Kinston, North Carolina, weaves steamed clams with traditional New Orleans creamed oysters. It's hearty but not heavy, and the winter greens make it a full meal. Crusty bread is a must for sopping up the coveted broth.

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Lettuce Wraps with Dried Oysters

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (14)

"The Chinese love to play on the sound of the words, and the sound of the word 'oyster' is similar to the term 'good business,'" says cookbook author Kei Lum Chan. "So an oyster dish is popular to start Chinese New Year."

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Steak Tartare with Smoked Oyster Aïoli

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (15)

For her steak tartare, 2018 F&W Best New Chef Kate Williams uses tender beef scraps rescued from butchering rib eyes. Dark green leek tops, often discarded, become the base of her punchy gremolata. The smoked oyster aïoli adds muscle and brightness, and it’s easy to make (it takes about a minute in a blender).

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Smoky Oyster Chowder with Bacon, Rosemary, and Fennel

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (16)

This velvety chowder from chef Dylan Fultineer is thickened with a classic flour and butter roux. He packs it with plump oysters and tender fingerling potatoes and adds a kick of heat from dried red chiles. For extra flavor, he uses bacon from Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams in Tennessee, which is famous for its intense smokiness.

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Fried Oysters with Remoulade

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (17)

These crunchy fried oysters are an elegant, fun appetizer. They're served with a creamy remoulade made with mayonnaise, horseradish, capers, hot sauce, and Creole mustard — the perfect dipper for the crispy oysters.

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Montauk Scallop and Oyster Pan Roast

18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (18)

Scallops and oysters are an ideal briny, oceanic duo, and this recipe marries them perfectly."In larger portions, it's a meal-in-a-bowl dinner that your whole family will love. For parties, I make a large batch and serve it out of coffee mugs," says chef Andrew Zimmern.

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18 of Our Favorite Oyster Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the name of the famous oyster dish? ›

Oysters Rockefeller

First created at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans in 1899, this famous baked oyster dish was named for the Rockefeller family because of its incredibly rich sauce. Try making it at home with star chef Emeril Lagasse's expert recipe.

What is the most popular way to cook oysters? ›

Steaming is one of the simplest and quickest cooking methods for oysters, needing just a few minutes for them to cook through using this moist-heat technique. The gentle steam allows the briny oysters to cook while keeping their natural juices and flavors intact. All you need is a pot with a steamer basket.

What's the best thing to put on oysters? ›

Fresh Toppings for Fresh Oysters
  • Chimichurri sauce. This fresh herb sauce is traditionally served with steak, so it's an unexpected delight topped on fresh oysters. ...
  • Chopped bacon and finely diced jalapeno. ...
  • Grated fresh horseradish with lemon or lime granita. ...
  • Sriracha and lemon juice. ...
  • Shredded quick-pickled pears.
Nov 30, 2014

What are the most delicious oysters? ›

Kelly Oysters

And if the world is your oyster then Galway, on Ireland's west coast, is your home. Kelly Oysters, based in a small inlet in Galway Bay, have been described as “the best flavoured in the world”.

What is the most commonly eaten oyster? ›

1. Crassostrea Gigas, or Pacific Oysters. The Crassostrea gigas, better known to most people as the Pacific oyster, are popular on the West Coast in the U.S. and in Europe, and may even grow more popular than native Olympia oysters. These oysters are the most cultivated in the world.

What is the famous oyster dish in New Orleans? ›

The most iconic cooked oyster dish is of course oysters Rockefeller. This dish, invented at Antoine's in 1889, is virtually synonymous with New Orleans.

What to avoid when eating oysters? ›

You can become ill by eating raw or undercooked oysters or clams. If the oysters or clams are cooked thoroughly, the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria are destroyed and there is no risk of infection. Eating raw oysters or clams with hot sauce or while drinking alcohol does not destroy the bacteria.

What is the most popular way to eat oysters? ›

Oysters are primarily a finger food and should be eaten raw, fresh and right from the shell. No silverware, no plates, you just need to put your lips right up to the shell and slurp away. This tiny fork that may frequently accompany oysters is used just to loosen the oyster from the shell.

What pairs nicely with oysters? ›

Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Oysters
  • Sizzling Companions: Grilled Asparagus and Bacon. ...
  • A Taste of Elegance: Lobster Tails and Lemon Herb Couscous. ...
  • Crispy Additions: French Baguette and Fried Shrimp. ...
  • A Fresh Twist: Cucumber Dill Salad and Garlic Spinach. ...
  • Oysters and Wine: Pairing with White Wine and Butter Sauce.
Feb 8, 2024

Which country eats the best oysters? ›

In France, the oyster has been beloved by kings and peasants for thousands of years and today, the French continue to love these salty and briny treats from the sea. At bistros and brasseries around the country, you'll find raw oysters on the menu–and many believe French oysters to be the best in the world.

Which oyster tastes the best? ›

By striking the perfect balance between sweet, savory, and salty, the Olympia oyster has earned its place among the best oysters out there. Although there are a fair few oysters that call the Pacific Northwest their home, these Olympia oysters are the only known native species of the region.

What is the most expensive oyster to eat? ›

Belon oysters, also known as Flat oysters, are one of the most prestigious and expensive oyster varieties. They grow in the river Belon, located on the west coast of France, and have a characteristic and full-bodied taste with a slight nutty tinge.

What is the famous oyster in Japan? ›

The Matoya oyster, suitable for raw consumption, is especially famous. You can eat both Pacific (raw oysters) and Iwagaki oysters. In a 2021 Internet poll, Mie Prefecture was ranked the best prefecture in Japan for delicious oysters.

What are the most famous French oysters? ›

The most famous oyster in the world, Belons are harvested from all over France and finished in special walled ponds (“claires”) in the brackish waters of the Belon River, a process the French call “affinage.”

What is the name of the American oyster? ›

American Oyster (Crassostrea virginica)

What is the most popular type of oyster? ›

The attractive shell is consistently fluted with a deep cup that many chefs and consumers prefer. All of those factors have made Pacifics the most popular oyster around the world, grown all throughout the Pacific as well as Norway, France, Morocco, and Namibia.

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