Robb Walsh’s Grilled Oysters Are Perfect Cool Weather Coastal Fare

Robb Walsh's Grilled Oysters

Award-winning author and food historian Robb Walsh shared with us a Gulf oyster recipe that is especially satisfying during the cool months in Texas when the harvesting season is in full swing. Imagine standing around a flaming barbecue pit on a cool evening watching oysters on the half shell sizzle in butter. A scattering of grated Parmesan and parsley on top is a savory finishing touch.

As the recipe from Walsh’s book Texas Eats: The New Lone Star Heritage Cookbook shows, making these sizzling delights is easily accomplished at home. So, there’s no reason to not grab a sack full from a local seafood purveyor and get to shucking. (By the way: don’t miss the special trick to that in the recipe. When grilling oysters, it’s easier than you think.)

Grilled Oysters on the Half Shell

You’ll want to spill a bit of butter into the flames of your grill to get the fire to flare up and char the oyster shells a little.

1 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 dozen oysters in the shell, fresh or frozen
Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Prepare a hot fire for direct-heat grilling in a charcoal or gas grill.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, being careful not to let it brown. Stir in the garlic, salt, and pepper, then remove from the heat. (This can be done on the grill.)

You can shuck the oysters, leaving them on the half shell. Or, you can put the unshucked oysters on the grill grate, and when the shells pop open, remove the top shell from each oyster. Spoon the butter mixture evenly over the oyster meats and grill for 3 – 5 minutes, until cooked through. Transfer to platters and sprinkle with a little Parmesan and parsley. Serve at once.

Recipe reprinted with permission from Texas Eats: The New Lone Star Heritage Cookbook, with More than 200 Recipes by Robb Walsh, © 2012. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House Inc.

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  • December 12, 2016 at 3:08 amGeorge trail

    This must be good. I’m looking forward to a run at it.

    Reply