2 To Tango Oysters On The Half Shell Food

OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL

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.

OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL WITH RED WINE VINEGAR SAUCE

Steps:

• In a blender puree shallots with the red wine vinegar until smooth. Set aside. Shuck oysters. Shucked oysters may be kept, covered with a wet towel, in the refrigerator up to an hour. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of sauce over each oyster to cover with a thin layer. Serve immediately.

OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL WITH FENNEL-CORIANDER MIGNONETTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix fennel, shallots, coriander and vinegar. Spoon on top of oysters. Put one dash of hot pepper sauce on each oyster. Place on plate of ice and fennel sprigs and serve immediately.

AMUSE BOUCHE OF THYMEROASTED OYSTERS IN THE SHELL

Steps:

• Remove the oyster from the shell and place on paper towels. Reserve the bottom half of the shell and scrub well. Pick 6 sprigs of thyme and reserve for garnish. Sprinkle the other thyme over the oysters and season with pepper. Heat the olive oil in a small saute pan and add the oysters, thyme side down. Cook for 20 seconds until oysters are lightly brown. Return the oyster to bottom shell with a drop of lamb jus. Mound the salt over 6 small plates and place the oyster and shell on the salt. Garnish with remaining thyme sprigs.

RAW OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL

Steps:

• Scrub the oysters under cold water with a stiff brush to remove the dirt, especially in the hinge area where mud has a tendency to get trapped. Next, 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, place the oyster, cup-side down in the palm of your towel-covered hand with the hinge facing you; have a small bowl handy to catch the delicious juice. Insert the tip of an oyster knife or dull butter knife as far into the hinge as it will go; don't jab it in there or you could break the shell. With gentle force, twist the knife back and forth to pry the shell open. Using the knife, cut the muscle away from the top shell, bend the shell back, and discard it. Run the knife underneath the oyster to detach it completely, but leave it in its shell. Tip out the briny liquor into the bowl and pour it back over the shucked oysters. Nestle the oysters in a bed of crushed ice or rock salt to keep them steady. Spoon the Cucumber Mignonette on top and serve as part of a raw shellfish bar.
• In a small bowl, combine the rice wine vinegar, shallots, ginger, cucumber, black pepper, and cilantro; 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 and clams.

OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL WITH SPICY VINEGAR

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.