Christmas Eve Oyster Stew Recipes

GRANDMA'S OYSTER SOUP

Steps:

• Pour oyster juice through a sieve to remove grit; reserve juice for soup .
• Rinse oysters in cold water in colander to remove any broken shells.
• Melt butter in a large sauce pan or soup pot over low heat. Add oysters and gently warm for a few minutes.
• Add milk and oyster juice. Continue to heat slowly over low heat, stirring occasionally.
• When the broth is warm (not scalded), season slowly with salt and pepper. Taste and continue to season until the milk broth is flavorful.
• Serve with crackers or oyster crackers.

OYSTER STEW

Steps:

• Drain oysters and reserve their liquid. If the reserved liquid is particularly gritty, strain it through a double layer of cheese cloth.
• In a large saucepan over medium to medium-low heat, melt the butter. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over the top and whisk to incorporate. (I like to use this flat whisk.) Then whisk in salt, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce. Cook for 1 minute, whisking gently all the while.
• Whisk in reserved oyster juice. And then slowly add milk, whisking constantly to incorporate. Cook over low to medium-low heat, stirring regularly, until mixture is steaming and bubbles just start to appear around the edge of the saucepan. Do not let mixture come to a boil. Turn heat down just a bit to low, and let cook for 10 minutes.
• Add oysters and cook for 2 more minutes, or until oysters start to curl. Taste test and add a bit more salt if you like. Black pepper and fresh chopped parsley are optional.

NEW ENGLAND OYSTER STEW

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large pot. Add the oysters with their liquor. Heat until the oysters curl.
• Meanwhile heat the whole milk and half-and-half . Add to the pot when the oysters have curled.
• Salt and pepper to taste. The stew will take a lot of seasoning.
• Heat to serving temperature and serve.

OYSTER STEW

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook the celery and shallots until shallots are tender.
• Pour half-and-half into a large pot over medium-high heat. Mix in the butter, celery, and shallot mixture. Stir continuously. When the mixture is almost boiling, pour the oysters and their liquid into the pot. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir continuously until the oysters curl at the ends. When the oysters curl the stew is finished cooking; turn off the heat and serve.

CHRISTMAS OYSTER STEW

Steps:

• Melt 2 sticks of butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add the celery and shallots and saute until the shallots are translucent.
• Pour half-and-half into a large pot over medium-high heat. Mix in 2 sticks of butter, celery, and shallot mixture. Stir continuously. When the mixture is almost boiling, pour the oysters and their liquid into the pot. Season with salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce. Stir continuously until the oysters curl at the ends. When the oysters curl the stew is finished cooking; turn off the heat and serve.
• Add celery salt and paprika to each bowl along with a 1 1/2 - 2 tablespoon square of butter from the remaining sticks.