Basque Oysters Recipes

Steps:

• Shuck the oysters (remove them from their shell) and then place back in their cleaned half shells.
• Divide the diced chorizo between the oysters.
• Splash each oyster with sherry and then use a blowtorch to crisp the chorizo. Alternatively, if you do not have a blowtorch, gently fry the chorizo until crispy in a frying pan before topping the oysters.

Steps:

• Melt butter in a heavy kettle. Add the celery and shallots.
• Cook, stirring, for 10 minutes over moderately low heat until vegetables are soft. Pour in the strained liquid, milk and cream.
• Bring the mixture to a simmer.
• (Do not boil.) Beat the egg yolks lightly in a small bowl.
• Whisk the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks; stir the milk-egg mixture into the kettle. Add the oysters, salt and pepper.
• Simmer, stirring, until bisque is lightly thickened, and the edges of the oyste rs have curled.
• Do not let the bisque come to a boil.
• Transfer to a heated soup tureen and sprinkle with the paprika.

Steps:

• Drain the oysters in a fine sieve set over a measuring cup, add enough water to the oyster liquor to measure 2 1/2 cups, and reserve the liquid. Discard any shell fragments from the oysters, rinse the oysters briefly, and chop them into 1/2-inch pieces. In a kettle cook the onion in the butter over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until it is pale golden, add the flour, and cook the roux, stirring, for 2 minutes. Whisk in the reserved oyster liquid and bring the mixture to a boil, whisking. Add the spinach, half the oysters, and the tarragon and simmer the mixture, stirring, for 2 minutes. In a blender purée the mixture in batches until it is smooth, transferring it as it is puréed to a bowl, and return it to the kettle. Add the cream and the remaining oysters and heat the bisque over moderate heat, stirring, until it is hot and the oysters are cooked, but do not let it boil. Stir in the zest, the sugar, the nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste and serve the bisque with the oyster crackers.

Steps:

• In 4- to 5-quart Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Cook garlic and shallots in butter, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add clam juice and wine; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened.
• Stir in Worcestershire sauce, Cajun seasoning, pepper and whipping cream. Cook until thoroughly heated, about 10 minutes. Stir in oysters and crabmeat; cook just until edges of oysters curl. Serve with oyster crackers; sprinkle with parsley.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9-inch square baking dish or 2-quart gratin dish with olive oil.
• In a large bowl, stir together all of the ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Transfer mixture to baking dish. Bake until hot and golden brown, about 45 minutes. Serve hot or warm with crackers or bread.