Oyster Stew With Virginia Ham Recipes

VIRGINIA OYSTER STEW

Steps:

• Place milk, cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a medium saucepan or soup pot. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring regularly, just until hot (about 10 minutes). Do not boil.
• In a separate skillet, melt butter over low heat. Add the oysters, liquor and Worcestershire sauce. Sauté until the edge of the oysters just begin to curl (2-3 minutes). Transfer the oyster mixture to the pot of milk, and cook over medium-low heat for about 2 more minutes. Do not boil.
• Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with chives or paprika, if desired.

BROILED OYSTERS WITH CELERY CREAM AND VIRGINIA HAM

Steps:

• Shuck the oysters and drain, saving the oyster liquor for the sauce and the top shells.
• In a non-corrosive saucepan, add the oyster liquor, 8 ounces of the heavy cream, the celery seed, bay leaves, parsley, lemon zest, and juice. Bring to a boil and let reduce by 1/8. Strain through a fine sieve and return the cream mixture to the saucepan. Add the finely diced celery and ham and bring to a boil. Add the black pepper and check for saltiness, as the ham will add a great deal of salt to the mixture. If it is too salty, (hams will vary in saltiness) add a little more cream. Keep warm.
• Drain the celery root, and, in another saucepan, add the celery root. Cover with fresh, salted water and bring to a boil. Cook until tender and drain. In a food processor, add the celery root, butter, and remaining cream, and puree.
• Preheat the broiler. Place a 1/2 teaspoon of the celery root puree into each of the oyster shells, top with an oyster, and spoon the celery ham cream over the oysters. Place the filled oysters on bed of sea salt on a sheet pan and broil in the oven for about 5 minutes or until browning and bubbly. Serve at once.

OYSTER STEW WITH VIRGINIA HAM

Steps:

• Using 2 forks, shred ham into bite-size pieces. (You should have 1 cup.)
• In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in ham. Increase heat to high and add cider; cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add cream, and heat through, stirring often, until just bubbling, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in oysters and liquor; cook until oysters turn opaque and begin to curl, 1 to 2 minutes. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Divide among 4 bowls and serve, with crackers and more pepper.

OYSTER STEW

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook the celery and shallots until shallots are tender.
• Pour half-and-half into a large pot over medium-high heat. Mix in the butter, celery, and shallot mixture. Stir continuously. When the mixture is almost boiling, pour the oysters and their liquid into the pot. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir continuously until the oysters curl at the ends. When the oysters curl the stew is finished cooking; turn off the heat and serve.