I love oysters and have as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, I was taught how to serve them raw and cooked with many different sauces.
When serving raw, the oysters need to be ice cold and the sauce should complement but not overpower the flavour of the oyster.
Raw oysters have different flavours depending on species and where they live, the water they filter, and how they're handled.
The raw oysters I used were Rock Oysters or Crassostrea Gigas for you oyster connoisseurs out there.
I have to say they are absolutely delicious. The oysters are firm and creamy with the flavour of salted butter, mushroom and minerals.
If you can get your hands on some of this variety, I strongly recommend you do.
Their distinctive flavour comes from their habitat in the plankton rich waters off Mersey Island where they have been hand picked or dredged from the seabed since Roman times.
Preparing Your raw oysters
If you have never prepared oysters before, I recommend getting an oyster knife and holder which makes the difficult task of opening the shells much easier.
You'll get faster at it the more you do it. There are a lot of Youtube videos out there demonstrating how to easily open an oyster.
So then... Let's talk sauce. Colchester rock oysters would be great on their own or with a simple squeeze of lemon.
I decided, however to make a sauce which has been in my family for at least 50 years. It only takes minutes to make. If you are unfamiliar with chipotle paste, it is now available all over the UK.
It has a smoky flavour and is quite spicy though I do consider this sauce to be mild in heat intensity.
If you like this recipe, you might like to try some of these too...
Crêpes filled with lobster and garlic confit
Normandy Style Turbot and Sole Stew
Spanish Seared Sea Bass
Recipe
Raw Oysters With Chipotle Chilli and Lime Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 rock oysters or the oysters of your choice
- 125ml lime juice
- 125ml white wine vinegar
- 1 – 2 teaspoons chipotle paste (to taste)
- 2 shallots – finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped coriander
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients except for the salt and pepper in a blender and blent until smooth.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
I hope you agree that this is the perfect way to enjoy raw oysters. If you do try the recipe, please don't be a stranger! Leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.