Roasted Onion And Smoked Chile Oyster Sauce Recipes

GRILLED OYSTERS WITH HOT-SAUCE BUTTER

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine butter, hot sauce, garlic, lemon zest and anchovy, and pulse until there are no streaks of hot sauce and the butter is a uniform shade of pale pink. (If you don't have a food processor, leave the butter out until it's very soft, then beat the ingredients together with a spoon.) Scrape the mixture into a small bowl, and set aside in the fridge.
• Put the oysters in a large bowl in the sink, and scrub off any sand or grit. Rinse well, drain and refrigerate until you're ready to shuck. To shuck: Grip an oyster with a folded dishtowel so the shell is cupped side down, hinge side facing toward you. Push the tip of the oyster knife into the hinge, and twist so it cracks open. Make sure the knife is clean of shell and grit, then use it to release the top shell, and slide it under the oyster meat to release it from the bottom shell. Repeat with remaining oysters, discarding any that are already open or that have a bad smell.
• Build a fire in your charcoal grill, or set a gas grill to high. Gently crumple a sheet of aluminum foil so its grooves can support the open oysters and keep them from spilling, and set it on the grate. Place 12 oysters on the foil, and top each with approximately ½ teaspoon of butter; use more for especially large oysters, but less for small ones. The idea is to cover the oyster with butter, but not to overfill the shell. Cover the grill, and cook until the butter and oyster juices are bubbling but the oyster is still plump, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Use tongs to transfer hot oysters to a platter lined with another piece of foil that will keep the shells upright, and serve immediately with a bottle of hot sauce and lemon wedges at the table. Repeat with remaining oysters.

SMOKED OYSTERS ON CRACKERS WITH HOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Place each of the oysters onto a cracker, and then sprinkle each with the scallions and chiles. Add hot sauce, to taste.

FIRE-ROASTED GARLICKY OYSTERS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to high heat.
• Combine the butter, garlic, the juice from the lemons and a few pinches of salt and pepper in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the butter melts. Stir together the parsley, Parmesan and Romano in a medium bowl.
• Arrange the oyster shells on the grill grate. Spoon the butter mixture over the oysters. Add the bread to the grill cut-side down and cook until grill marks appear, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove the bread from the grill. Cover the grill with the lid and cook until the oysters begin to reduce in size, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Spoon the parsley mixture over each oyster, cover the grill and cook until the cheese is melted and the oysters are cooked to desired doneness, 30 seconds to 1 minute longer. Remove the oysters to a serving platter. Serve immediately with the bread.

SMOKED ONION RECIPE

Steps:

• Soak the hickory chips in water for 30 minutes, and then drain. Place the soaked chips in a stovetop smoker or outdoor smoker over medium-high heat. Peel and quarter the onions and place in a perforated pan. Cover with tin foil, poke a few holes in it, place in the smoker, and smoke for 1 hour. Your onions should be soft and have a nice brown color. Tasting the onions for smoke flavor is the best way to check for doneness, not all smokers are the same. When the onions are smoked, transfer to a food processor and puree until smooth. Cool. Combine with the rest of the ingredients. Mix well and taste for salt.