Oyster Stew

And it’s so easy. Just a few little tips and you’ll be cooking this like a pro. This traditional winter meal, so famous on the east coast, is about to become a new family favorite! We love our soups and stews at GypsyPlate. Jambalaya soup… zuppa Toscana… albondigas soup… Greek fasolada… and so many more. We just can’t get enough of those cozy bowls! Today, we’re bringing you a real classic, Oyster Stew!

What is Oyster Stew?

Oyster stew is a very simple concoction with three main ingredients: butter, milk or cream, and oysters. Personally, I would consider it more of a soup than a stew, but don’t ask me, I’m just a food blogger! It’s traditionally eaten around Thanksgiving in New England, whereas in the South it’s often served on Christmas Eve. There are two competing theories of how the Christmas Eve tradition started… One theory has to do with when people living far from the coast had access to oysters before refrigerated transportation. When temperatures dipped and oysters could be safely transported inland, they became a symbol of the arrival of the winter holiday season. The other theory believes that Irish Catholic immigrants would not eat meat on Christmas Eve, and were used to eating ling fish stew instead. Finding oyster similar to ling fish, they made the switch to oyster stew. Whenever you decide to eat it, this is one delicious soup… stew! Check out our collection of favorite Stew Recipes! Here’s a little trivia: In addition to the U.S., oyster stew is also very popular in Gamibia.

Ingredients for Oyster Stew

Fresh oysters – The stars. You can usually find them already shucked in the seafood aisle of your local grocery store.Butter – This adds a lot of flavors.Milk or creamSeasonings

Some tips for perfect Oyster Stew

How to make Oyster Stew

Heat half of the butter in a pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté till it gets translucent. Add in garlic and sauté until it starts to get fragrant. Reduce heat to low and add in milk, cream and seasonings. Cook until mixture is hot and steaming, but not boiling. This should take about 10. Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add in oysters and liquor and cook until oysters begin to curl around the edges. Transfer the oyster mixture into the hot milk. Stir everything together nicely and serve. Garnishing options: fresh chopped parsley, green onions, hot sauce, oyster crackers or saltine crackers. Check out our collection of favorite Seafood Recipes!

What to serve with Oyster Stew

It is often served as a starter, along with oyster crackers. If serving as a main, I love it with some nice crusty bread for sopping up the liquid, and maybe a fresh salad on the side. Try this classic oyster stew in your own home. It’s creamy, cozy and oh so satisfying. When you cook this, please leave a comment and star rating, I love hearing from you. And be sure to subscribe to GypsyPlate, we’re always cooking up new recipes for you!