Who knew? August 5 each year honors oysters for National Oyster Day! Some view oysters as slimy bottom-dwelling-scum suckers while others enjoy the delightful bites of pure ocean brine! We are huge fans of oysters! Having hailed from the Midwest, we never really experienced their awesomeness until we came to SW Florida! It is a definite favorite when eating at many of our local restaurants such as Lazy Flamingo, Timbers, Doc Fords, Blue Lagoon, and Lighthouse Restaurant! Yum!
Let’s look at these chewy bites of the ocean! Oysters have been around for ages with fossils dating back to our first inhabitants of the earth! They have been a food source for about this along as well, since archeologists found evidence of people from coastal regions tossing them in the fire to open and then consuming them. (We recently talked to an older gentleman at a wedding who said he just finished eating a bushel of oysters that he “threw on the grill” to pop open – who knew?!)
A little more history – between the 18th and 19th centuries the world entered “the Golden Age of Oysters,” with a surge in oyster production, making them cheaper to produce and thus more available to the general population. In the 19thcentury New York gained title as the world’s largest producer of oysters and is tied directly to the boom of the NY restaurant industry. Unfortunately, NY’s oyster beds were destroyed, and they became more of a delicacy as a result. Whew…so interesting!
Are oysters good for you? Commonly eaten raw with a squeeze of lemon juice and a dip in horseradish and cocktail sauce, these salty delicacies are low in calories and are a good source of Vitamins B12 and D, as well as iron, and a number of minerals and micronutrients. Thus, oysters are good for brain health, strong bones, and improved immunity.
Consuming oysters raw is not without risk obviously. Food poisoning is a concern, therefore only order oysters from reputable sources where you know they are fresh! Those who are more susceptible, should probably avoid eating them raw, such as those fighting infection, cancer, diabetes, or liver disease.
However, oysters can be prepared a number of different ways other than the standard “raw on the half shell.” Here are some other ways to eat these delicious little creatures!
Grilled oysters like our friend from the wedding told us. Toss some on the grill and watch them open. Serve with your favorite oyster toppings such as cocktail sauce and horseradish or vinegar and caramelized onions.
Oysters Rockefeller, known as the classic: finely chopped celery, onion, and parsley cooked in butter, with 1 Tbsp Worcestershire and ½ tsp tabasco added, followed by 1 cup of breadcrumbs (we use GF) and a splash of Pernod. Oysters are topped with the chilled breadcrumb mixture and baked for 5-8 minutes in a 375 oven.
Oyster shooters are another fun way to serve oysters and look great in cute shot glasses. Simple to make – just add the shucked and dried oyster to a shot glass and top with 1 tsp of cocktail sauce and horseradish. Some like to add a little vodka or lemon spritz as well!
Sauteed oysters with wine and herbs is a lovely way to make a beautiful appetizer or a light meal. For 2 dozen oysters, melt ½ cup butter, add 3 chopped green onions, saute, add 1 tsp tarragon and ¼ cup dry white wine and salt and pepper to taste. Add shucked oysters and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Toss in the sauce and serve with crusty toast, crackers, or as is! Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon.
There you have it! We hope you are encouraged to celebrate National Oyster Day and try some of these recipes at home or at some of our local SW Florida favorite restaurants! Cheers!