Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

oyster stew

Recipe by
Jason Koch
Westland, MI

Scott Peacock, chef of Watershed in Atlanta, serves up some stew from the Gulf of Mexico.

yield 4 serving(s)
prep time 5 Min
cook time 25 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For oyster stew

  • 5 Tbsp
    unsalted butter
  • 1 md
    yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 tsp
    coarse salt
  • 2 Tbsp
    all-purpose flour
  • 3 c
    milk, warmed
  • 1 c
    heavy cream
  • 2-3
    fresh stewing oysters, shucked and picked over to remove any shells, liquor strained and reserved (about 1 cup)
  • ground black pepper
  • pinch
    cayenne pepper
  • 4 slice
    good white bread
  • softened butter for toasting bread

How To Make oyster stew

  • 1
    1. In a nonreactive saucepan (stainless, 4-quart) over moderately low heat, melt 3 tbsp of butter. Add onion and salt; stir well to coat. Cook slowly, stirring often, until the onion is tender but not browned, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle flour over onion, stirring well to blend, and cook 2 minutes longer. Slowly whisk in heated milk and heavy cream, along with reserved oyster liquor. Bring just to a light simmer, stirring often to prevent scorching. 2. In a wide nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, melt remaining 2 tbsp of butter until hot and bubbling, but not browned. Add drained oysters in a single layer. Sprinkle with coarse salt and black pepper; sauté until oysters begin to curl around edges and gills are slightly exposed, about 2 minutes. Do not overcook. Transfer entire contents of oyster sauté pan to the onion-milk mixture. Stir in a pinch of cayenne, cover, and remove from heat to "ripen" for 10 minutes, allowing flavors to develop. 3. While soup is resting, use cookie cutter (or open end of a drinking glass) to cut a 3-inch round from each slice of bread. Butter both sides of each round and toast both sides in a sauté pan over low heat until golden. 4. When bread is toasted and stew ripened, return stew to gentle heat and bring to just below a simmer. Taste and carefully add salt, which brings out the sweetness of oysters. 5. Place a piece of toast in the bottom of each bowl and ladle soup over, taking care to distribute oysters evenly between portions.
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