If you’re brave enough to try oysters and you don’t think about it too much before you eat them, other than the amazing ocean flavor and the nutrients, you will grow to love them like the rest of us.
Once you try them you’ll be rushing off to your local fishmonger to buy the freshest ones you can and then you’ll want to learn how to shuck raw oysters. With a little practice it can become quite easy.
Also, they are very versatile ingredients from barbecued on the grill to creamy oyster stew.
Oysters have more zinc than any other food. Plus they have selenium. Zinc and selenium are two of the three critical minerals for your thyroid and also helps your body generate T-cells for immunity. If you’re feeling sluggish try eating a dozen a week for a couple weeks and see what happens.
EQUIPMENT: oyster knife, kitchen towel
Get the freshest, most local oysters you can.
Ingredients
very fresh, raw oysters
Directions
- Place an oyster flat side up on a very sturdy kitchen towel.
- Protect your hand with the towel and insert the tip of the knife, flat side up, right next to the hinge. Without moving the knife side to side, use force to rock it in a twisting motion such as trying to unscrew a stubborn screw by twisting the screwdriver. You are trying to dig the knife in a little bit. You should feel it work its way in. This takes practice and the longer you take to work the knife in the harder the oyster will clamp down. Sometimes you just need to grab another one and come back to the one you’re working on.
If you are a beginner you may want to wear a Kevlar glove on the hand holding the oyster. - Once you feel the knife go in a little, and still holding the oyster firmly, pull up on the knife near the hinge to pop open the hinge.
- Now, still holding the oyster flat and firmly because you don’t want to spill the liquor, slide the knife down the length of the top shell. You’re trying to cut through where the oyster is attached to the upper shell.
- You will now be able to remove the upper flat shell and have a nice oyster with liquor in it on the bottom shell. You can see where the oyster was attached to the top shell.
- Next slide the knife along the length of the bottom shell, taking care still not to spill the liquor in the bottom shell. This will completely release the oyster.
- Now you are free to cook or eat the oyster raw. A lot of people enjoy them right from the shell.
This one has a little bit of Worcestershire and a dab of horseradish on top. Hold the shell at your lips and slurp it on down!! That’s how you get all of that great liquor. Even at the restaurant; what the heck! - Great job! That was cold and salty and delicious! Ready for the next one!!
