Oysters are a delicious delicacy, and they can be paired with a variety of different foods to create an amazing culinary experience.
Here are what to serve with oysters:
- Side dishes: Roasted asparagus, Green salad, Caesar salad, etc.
- Sauces: Mignonette sauce, Lemon aioli sauce, Soy sauce, etc.
- Wine: Chardonnay, Viognier. Pinot Noir, etc.
In this blog post, we will discuss some of our favorite pairings for oysters. We will also provide tips on how to prepare and serve these dishes. Let’s get started!
What to Serve with Oysters?
What Side Dishes Go with Oysters?
There are a variety of side dishes that you can make to go with oysters. We have provided some recipes below for various types of sides which pair well with your favorite shellfish dish:
Roasted Asparagus
Asparagus is an excellent side dish for oysters because it’s low in calories and high in fiber. It also has plenty of vitamin A which helps keep your eyes healthy!
Roast asparagus with olive oil and salt until tender, then top them off by drizzling some lemon juice over the cooked vegetable.
You can also add garlic cloves to the pan if desired; they will soften up during cooking time so don’t worry about peeling or chopping beforehand.
Green Salad
A green salad goes great with oysters because it’s light and refreshing. You can use any kind of lettuce, but romaine works best.
Add sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, olives, and croutons to the mix.
Serve with a good quality balsamic vinegar and freshly ground black pepper.
Caesar Salad
This classic salad is a must-have for any occasion. It pairs perfectly with oysters because it contains lots of vegetables and herbs.
To make it even healthier, try adding grilled chicken breast pieces instead of bacon.
Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
Broccoli is another excellent choice for a side dish with oysters. It has a milder taste than regular broccoli and is much easier to digest.
It’s also very nutritious. Just remember to buy organic broccoli whenever possible.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut broccoli into florets and place them on a baking sheet. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.
Bake for 20 minutes or until slightly browned. Remove from oven and toss with Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.
Coleslaw Salad
Nothing says summer like a crisp and refreshing coleslaw salad. This classic side dish is the perfect accompaniment to oysters on the half shell or fried fish sandwiches, but it can also be eaten as an appetizer before your meal!
Toss together some chopped cabbage with mayonnaise (or vegan mayo), lemon juice, and a dash of salt for an easy side dish that everyone will love.
Potato Salad
A potato salad is another great choice when serving oysters on the half shell or fried fish sandwiches. You can make this classic American dish by boiling potatoes until tender then mixing them with mayonnaise (or vegan mayo), onion slices, celery ribs, and parsley leaves.
Add some hard-boiled eggs if desired or even chopped pickles would do the trick! Serve this side dish alongside your favorite shellfish appetizers or main course items like fried clams or shrimp po’boys – it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Macaroni and Cheese
Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned bowl of macaroni and cheese? This creamy side dish is perfect for kids and adults alike, and it goes great with oysters!
Make your favorite recipe or use one from a box – either way, it’s sure to be delicious. Just be sure to cook the macaroni noodles al dente so they don’t get too soft when mixed with the cheese sauce.
Fruit Salad
A fruit salad is a great way to add some color and sweetness to your meal. It’s also a good source of fiber and vitamin C, which are both important nutrients for keeping your immune system strong.
Choose your favorite fruits and mix them with a light dressing made of honey, lime juice, and poppy seeds. This side dish is perfect for any summer gathering!
Grilled Corn
Grilling corn gives it a delicious smoky flavor that pairs well with oysters.
Heat your grill to high heat and brush each ear of corn with melted butter before placing it onto the hot griddle.
Grill for about 15 minutes, turning occasionally until all sides are tender when pierced through with a fork or knife.
Serve immediately alongside freshly shucked oyster meat.
Lobster and Oyster Risotto With Garlic Breadcrumbs
This is a very rich dish that is sure to satisfy any seafood lover’s cravings.
You can make the risotto by cooking Arborio rice with lobster and oyster broth, then adding Parmesan cheese along with fresh herbs such as parsley or basil.
The garlic breadcrumbs are made in a food processor until they resemble coarse meals before being sprinkled on top of the dish before serving. The risotto is finished off with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and parmesan cheese over rice to taste.
Crispy Bacon-Baked Oyster
This recipe is so easy that even beginners can do it.
All you need are three ingredients: oysters, bacon, and butter. First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 Celsius).
Place the oysters on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Then, cut the bacon into thirds and place one piece on top of each oyster.
Finally, melt some butter and pour it over the bacon slices.
Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. Serve hot and enjoy!
What Sauces Go with Oysters?
There are a variety of sauces that you can make to go with oysters. We have provided various types of sauces which pair well with your favorite shellfish dish:
Mignonette Sauce
The mignonette sauce is a classic condiment for raw oysters, It goes well with the briny flavor of the shellfish.
It is a classic French sauce made with red wine vinegar and shallots. It is a traditional accompaniment to oysters on the half shell or raw clams.
Lemon Aioli Sauce
This sauce combines fresh lemon juice and garlic with mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and pepper for an easy dip that’s great over fried chicken too,
Ginger Beer/Soy Sauce
This is one of the most popular sauces used in Chinese cooking, especially when it comes to shellfish dishes like oysters.
It has a sweet subtle taste that goes well with salty flavors such as soy sauce or ginger beer.
Cocktail Sauce
Cocktail sauce is a delicious blend of ketchup, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce. It is one of the common sauces for oysters.
Bourbon Sauce
This sauce is a classic pairing for oysters on the half shell, but it’s also delicious with other seafood dishes.
It’s made by combining bourbon whiskey, sugar, and butter in a pot until thickened then adding cream to thicken further before serving over freshly shucked oysters or any other seafood dish.
Lemon Butter Sauce
Lemon butter is a simple but tasty sauce made with butter, fresh lemon juice, and herbs.
It is a great pairing with oysters because it adds a little tanginess to the dish that goes well with the salty rich flavor of oysters.
Horseradish Sauce
This sauce is made by combining horseradish, mayonnaise, and mustard for an easy dip that’s great over fried chicken too.
It is one of the common sauces for oysters. This sauce can also be made with cream to give it a richer flavor.
Spicy Sauce
This spicy sauce is perfect for oysters served on the half shell. It is made from chili peppers, lime juice, and fish sauce.
What Wine Goes with Oysters?
Oyster’s unique rich flavor profiles make it an excellent pairing partner with a wide range of wines.
When pairing wine with oysters, you should consider the flavor of the dish and what types of grapes are used to create your favorite bottle.
For example: If you’re looking for an acidic white wine that will complement a briny seafood dish like scallops or mussels – try pairing them together! A dry Riesling or Grüner Veltliner will work well.
If you’re looking for a richer wine to pair with your oysters, consider a Chardonnay or Viognier. These wines typically have stone fruit flavors that will complement the sweetness of the oyster.
For red wine lovers, we recommend trying a Pinot Noir or Merlot.
Oyster: What Is It?
What are oysters?
Oysters are a type of mollusk that lives in the ocean and can be eaten raw or cooked. They have an outer shell called “mantle” which protects them from predators like crabs, lobsters, and other fish.
The innermost layer consists mainly of muscle tissue with some connective tissue surrounding it; this is where meat comes from.
Oysters are considered a delicacy because they’re difficult to harvest and the oyster shells tend not to break when eaten raw (although this may vary depending on the type of oyster).
Oysters have been eaten for centuries, but it wasn’t until about 1500 BC that humans started using them as food regularly.
Today they’re popular around the world.
Are oysters fish?
Although oysters are shellfish, they are not fish. This means that they cannot be classified as a type of fish, and they do not have scales.
However, they are still a part of the seafood family and are often considered a delicacy.
Types of Oysters
There are many different types of oysters, and they can be classified by their size, shape, and color.
The most popular type of oyster is the rock oyster or also called “Pacific Oyster.” This type is found in North America, Asia, and Australia.
Another type is native oysters. They are usually smaller than Pacific oysters, and they grow in the Atlantic Ocean.
Next up is the European flat oyster. These are very small and round, and they grow in Europe.
The meatier oysters include the “Blue Point,” “Cape Cod,” and “Eastern Oyster.” These types are found in Europe and South Africa.
Finally, there are the bay oysters. Bay oysters are large and oval-shaped, and they grow in coastal areas all over the world.
Other types of oysters include:
- European Flat Oyster
- Pacific Littleneck Oyster
- Kumamoto Oyster
- Olympia Oyster
- Virginica Oyster
- Hama Hama
How to Prepare
How to Store
When purchasing fresh oysters, look for shells that are tightly closed and slightly damp. If the shell is open, do not purchase the oyster as it may be spoiled.
Store your fresh oysters in a container or bag filled with ice and cover them with a wet cloth. Make sure to keep them in the fridge and consume them within two days of purchase.
You can also freeze your oysters, but they won’t taste as good after thawing out so it’s best to eat them right away!
How to Serve Raw Oysters?
It is best to serve raw oysters on a bed of crushed ice with lemon wedges and condiments such as Tabasco sauce, hot sauce, or cocktail.
Oysters can be served in many ways.
One way is plain (on the half shell), steamed oysters that are open over a heat source like an electric stovetop burner until they pop their lids off, then placed back into their shells with butter and lemon juice squeezed over them.
Another way is to cook by a variety of methods such as grilling (BBQ), baking in foil packets seasoned with spices like Old Bay seasoning salt blend.
You can also serve raw oysters on the half shell as an appetizer before dinner to whet your appetite.
How to Shuck Raw Oysters?
Raw oysters are usually shucked at room temperature.
Use an oyster knife to pry the shell apart and remove any meat that might be attached inside as well as any other debris from the inside of it (such as sand or grit).
Then rinse off under running cold water before consuming! You can also pick up some oyster forks if you want to use them for eating the oysters.
Some people like to add a squeeze of lemon over their shucked oyster before consuming it. Enjoy!
How to Make Classic Mignonette Sauce?
The mignonette sauce is a classic condiment for raw oysters. The mignonette sauce recipe can be made in minutes with only three ingredients: white wine vinegar, shallots, and salt.
First, finely mince fresh shallots then add them to a bowl along with two tablespoons of red or white wine vinegar (or white vinegar/champagne vinegar) and one teaspoon salt (sea salt, rock salt, or kosher salt).
Stir well until all ingredients have been incorporated into one another. The sauce should be thin enough to drizzle over oysters but thick enough so it doesn’t run off the sides when served.
How to Cook Oysters?
Here are several ways to cook oysters:
How to Cook Oysters in Muffin Tin: The Best Way to Make Them
How to Cook Oysters in Air Fryer?
FAQs
What side dishes go well with oysters?
A simple green salad with just a few leaves of romaine lettuce dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar would be perfect. Or you could make a creamy Caesar Salad dressing with croutons and Parmesan cheese.
What appetizers go with oysters?
Crab cakes, shrimp cocktail, crab dip, deviled eggs, or smoked salmon spread are great options.
