Oysters

[conrad74]

I did some hot smoked oysters for x-mas appies last year, planning on repeating this year. I poached oysters until firm , brined for about an hour then hot smoked for about an hour with 1 pan of cherry chips in my little chief. before serving I wrapped in bacon and finished in the oven until bacon cooked.

 

[salmonclubber]

smoked oysters yummm

 

[dwiens]

I was just about to post today if anyone had recipes or how-to smoke oysters. Any more of you east coast guys have recipes?

 

[crewdawg52]

The way we did them in the Islands was to just put them on a grill (alive and unopened). They steam in their own juices, and when they open, eat them dipped in a little shoyu (soy sauce) with Thai peppers.

 

[navionjim]

I second Crewdawg on that. We used to do them that way i Newport Oregon at Rogue Ale, right next door to Skip. If you don't like the shoyu idea garlic butter poured in just as the shells open works well too.
Jimbo

 

[pescadero]

You're making me hungary, Jimbo. We will have to give those babies a try next time you are in town. Two gread "Gardens" growing here in the bay, so there is an unending supply.

Skip

 

[kew_el_steve]

Here in the land of Apalachicola Oysters, some people eat them raw (barf...), but I like to smoke them live in the shell and pour in a little hot sauce when they open. This method must be accompanied with ice-cold beer and repeated. Just because, that's why...

 

[navionjim]

To be sure Skip, but have you had the oysters from Willipa Bay? those were the best! Ask John at Rogue, he knows where to find them.
Jimbo

 

[billybones]

Must wipe mouth.....drool taking over.....must fight the urge......seafood market nearby........NO.......must work....

 

[salmonclubber]

i agree willapa bay oysters are the best oysters i just eat a half gallon of them last weekend check out there website www.ekoneoyster.com they are a short 2 1/2 hour drive from me i try and make it down there about 5-6 times a year i have yet to try smoking them we like them battered and fried

huey

 

[geek with fire]

You don't get any smoke though. Right? I guess that aint a bad thing as oysters can stand out on their own. Any way to add smoke using this method? Do you still continue to cook them when they open, or pull them?

 

[bustedluckbarbq]

hmmm.... just posted reply and it didn't show up.... retry....

I like em raw right out of the shell with a little hot sauce.... The Blue Points up at Gramason's were out of this world!!!
Shuckin'

Passin'

Me... eatn em up!!!

 

[cowgirl]

Now ya did it! I'm going to have to find some of those!!

 

[pescadero]

Hey Jim and Huey, how ya doing.

Yes I have had Willipa's many times. But it is an all day drive for me. I have to "Pack my lunch", so to speak. I only get them when I am passing through somewhere north. Were talking three hours just to Astoria, then cross the bridge and on up into Hueys turf. They do have people selling them out of their car trunks along Hwy 101, but I have never trusted that they were fresh. I get them from the source or not at all.

Hey Huey, that reminds me. I get them from Hamma Hamma, every time I am up on "The Hood". Those Canal Oysters are pretty darn good too. Last time I dove at Mike's, he let us pick some off his property.

Meanwhile Jim, don't think you know it, but there is a 'new game in town'. A guy named Mike Marshall started a company called "Suspended Singles". He raises Gormet Oysters for the European marketplace. He signed a 'non-compete' with the other Oyster Farm, so he can't sell locally. They farm them in the top 18 inches of the water column. Cull them once a week. If two or more Oysters stick together they are culls. Guess who chows down on the culls. Haa Haa!! Call a quarter sized Oyster a 'cull'. I dare you. They are candy. We eat his Oysters raw, after popping them open on the BBQ. Or they go into 'shooters'.

And Geek, just for clarification, most people I know don't like the large or supersize Oysters. Too full of 'goosh' (scientific term) LOL. If I have those big babies, which I try to avoid, I pan fry low and slow until the goosh goes away. For popping open on the BBQ, I use nothing but medium's or smaller. Here you have several choices. Eat them as soon as they pop, either naked or with a sauce. Or you can move them over to the smoker and run a pan of smoke against them. Not trying to cook them any more, just trying to impart the smoke to them. The Smalls, the Babys and the Petites are eaten raw. They don't last long enough to get cooked, let alone smoked. They go into a shot glass, topped with your favorite sauce and are slammed down, right in front of a nice cold brewski.

I buy them by the bushel. 4-5 dozen in a bushel, depending on size. It is a great party idea. Keeps guests busy and fascinated for hours.

I don't have any experience with East coast Oysters, but bet they are great too.

Skip

 

[cman95]

I too throw them on a grill until they pop open. We call them "grilled rocks!"

YUMMY!!!

 

[flash]

Dam Yankee

Raw on a ritz cracker with some hot sauce

Steamed....them rubbery little things

Fried......

 

[pescadero]

I do steam them open some times and must admit I have had a rubber oyster, from time to time. You cracked me up. I hadn't thought of them in that way, but they can get rubbery if you over do it.

Still, a small price to pay. Pretty tasty little buggers and I love 'em.

 

[flash]

LOL, I did not mean it harshly. I have had some pretty good steamed oysters done over a charcoal fire. Personally, I would rather have dollar sized clams, but my little fishing village at Cedar Key has some very good oysters to dine on.

 

[hawgheaven]

I like my oysters one way... in my belly! Fried (yum!) or installed on a grill grate until open. I call them screamers (not to be confused with steamers). Awesome little critters they are!

 

[pescadero]

NP, Flash. I know. They can be a little touchy though and I have messed them up a time or two.

I agree with Hawg. . . . the way I like them best is "in my belly".

Skip