Connoisseurs of French cuisine say that oysters taste best in the months when they are not busy breeding. So in the period from September to April, their meat is the most enjoyable. About how to eat oysters and how to cook them, read on.
It turns out that it depends on the time of collection and the methods of preparation whether you become a fan of seafood or refuse them forever. We would not want you to lose the unique opportunity to enjoy the refined taste of these mollusks, so today we have collected all the most important for the discoverer of the deep sea of cooking.
How to eat oysters alive?
It is regrettable how civilized people hear this , but in Europe it is customary to consume oysters alive. Of course, they are cooked, fried, boiled and canned, but they are also eaten alive!
This method of eating mollusks appeared relatively recently, but it is used in all self-respecting institutions. But for someone who is going to eat a live oyster, this first experience can only be compared with the first glass of absinthe or chili sauce in an Asian restaurant.
You experience even more stress when you see a large number of incomprehensible devices that are designed for this, but there is nothing complicated, except that you have to come to terms with the fact that the oyster is alive.
Oyster - a way to eat
If you ordered live mollusks, then check their freshness. Let us say right away that if a shell is cracked, then the mollusk is no longer alive. You can also tap with two sinks against each other. The sound should be muffled, there should be water inside.
Usually, the mollusks are already brought open, on a large dish covered with crushed ice. Oysters are “drunk”, eaten with bread, often covered with a layer of butter. Red wine vinegar sauce with salt, olive oil, shallots and black pepper is also popular for this occasion. They drink this sea product with Brut champagne, Chablis-type white wine, and only in beer in the Netherlands and Belgium!
How to eat oysters
If you were given mollusks in shells, then follow the recommendations on how to get them and check.
In order not to drop your dinner, take the sink with a paper napkin, find from the sharp edge a place where two wings are joined, slip the tip of a special knife into it. Turn the knife on its side to reveal it, and immediately cut off the muscle that holds the wings together. Conventional kitchen utensils will immediately bend or break.
To make sure that the oyster is alive, drip on it with lemon juice (lemon is always served with this dish). The living mollusk shudders. Also, oysters are served rye bread, black pepper. However, it is advised not to eat more than 12 pieces for 1 time so that there are no problems with the intestines.
We try to cook the oyster ourselves
Naturally, you may not have to eat seafood alive. There are many great recipes to taste, and one we will share today. We offer to bake clams! Get a treat for three people.
For this you will need:
- 18 oysters.
- 30 grams of butter.
- A bunch of greens.
- 50 grams of cheese.
Rinse the shells in salt water, open and leave the clam in a deep leaf. Salt and rub hard cheese, such as parmesan, on it. Sprinkle with melted butter. Place in the oven for 10 minutes. Before eating oysters, sprinkle them with herbs. Bon Appetit!