Oysters On The Half Shell With Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette Recipes

Steps:

• Place the tip of your oyster knife into the tip of the hinge on the oyster shell, and twist to open. It may take you a few tries to get the technique, but once you do, it is easy.
• Make sure to employ a towel over your hand. Once open, scrape the bottom and top muscles separately to loosen the flesh from the shell. Leave the mussel meat in the bottom shell.
• Add a squeeze of lemon juice and hot sauce if you wish, and slurp down, chewing if you want the full experience.

Steps:

• For the Oysters:
• Begin by shucking oysters. Find a durable, thick cloth and fold it over several times to create a square; this will steady the oysters as you shuck them and also protect your hand. Using the towel as a mitt, hold the oyster firmly on a flat surface. Insert the tip of your oyster knife between the shell halves, and work it around 1 side to the other as you pry it open. Using the knife, cut the muscles away from the top, flat shell, bend the shell back, and discard it. Run the knife underneath the oyster to detach it completely, but leave it in its shell (take care not to cut the meat itself). Nestle the oysters in a bed of crushed ice or wet rock salt to keep them steady. Serve immediately.
• For the Cucumber Mignonette Sauce:
• In a small bowl, combine the rice wine vinegar, shallots, ginger, cucumber, sugar and black pepper; mixing with a fork. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour or up to the day before you plan to serve, to allow the flavors to come together. Serve with raw oysters.
• For the Cocktail Sauce:
• Mix ingredients in a blender to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Steps:

• Stir vinegar and salt in medium bowl until salt dissolves. Mix in green onions, shallots, garlic and black pepper. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Season to taste with additional salt, if desired. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Stir parsley into vinegar mixture.
• Line platter with crushed ice. Arrange oysters atop ice. Spoon 1 teaspoon vinegar mixture over each oyster. Transfer remaining vinegar mixture to small bowl. Serve oysters with lemon wedges and remaining vinegar mixture.