Crackling Flames & Fresh Flavours: Easy Oyster Recipes for Fire-Side Cooking

Cooking oysters around a bonfire offers a delightful blend of rustic simplicity and gourmet flavour. As the bonfire crackles on Bonfire Night, friends and family in the UK gather not just for fireworks but for comforting food as well. This year, alongside the usual sausagey treats, why not add a twist with some fresh oysters cooked right over the flames? These five simple oyster recipes are perfect for an outdoor celebration, offering a deliciously different way to enjoy the evening’s festive atmosphere. They’re quick, easy, and sure to impress your guests with their smoky, sea-kissed flavours.

Here are five oyster recipes perfect for such an occasion:

1. Bonfire Roasted Oysters
   • Ingredients: Fresh oysters, butter, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper.
   • Method:
     1. Shuck oysters, keeping them on the half shell.
     2. Mix melted butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
     3. Spoon a little of the mixture onto each oyster.
     4. Place oysters directly on the grill or on a metal grate over the bonfire. Cook until oysters are hot and the edges are curling, about 5-8 minutes.
2. Bonfire Oysters Rockefeller
   • Ingredients: Fresh oysters, butter, finely chopped spinach, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and a splash of anise liqueur or Pernod (optional).
   • Method:
     1. Shuck the oysters and keep them on the half shell.
     2. In a pan, melt butter and sauté spinach and garlic until wilted. Season with salt and pepper.
     3. Add a splash of the anise liqueur and cook for another minute.
     4. Spoon the spinach mixture onto each oyster, sprinkle breadcrumbs, and then top with grated Parmesan.
     5. Place on a grill or grate over the bonfire until the cheese is melted and golden.
3. Spicy Bonfire BBQ Oysters
   • Ingredients: Fresh oysters, BBQ sauce, hot sauce, butter, and lemon wedges.
   • Method:
     1. Shuck the oysters and keep them on the half shell.
     2. In a bowl, mix BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and a bit of melted butter.
     3. Spoon a small amount of the sauce mixture onto each oyster.
     4. Grill oysters on a grate over the bonfire until they are hot and bubbly. Serve with lemon wedges.
4. Bonfire Oyster Tacos
   • Ingredients: Fresh oysters, tortillas, slaw mix (cabbage, carrot), lime juice, mayo, hot sauce, salt, and pepper.
   • Method:
     1. Grill oysters on the half shell over the bonfire until they are hot.
     2. Combine slaw mix with mayo, lime juice, hot sauce, salt, and pepper to make a quick slaw.
     3. Remove oysters from shells, place in a tortilla, and top with the slaw.
5. Oysters with Herb Butter
   • Ingredients: Fresh oysters, butter, mixed herbs (like chives, parsley, and tarragon), minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
   • Method:
     1. Melt the butter and mix in finely chopped herbs, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
     2. Shuck the oysters and place them on the half shell.
     3. Drizzle or spoon the herb butter mixture onto each oyster.
     4. Place on a grill or grate over the bonfire and cook until the edges of the oysters are curling and they’re heated through.

Always remember to have tools like oyster knives, gloves, and tongs when dealing with oysters and the bonfire. Order yours from our shop and enjoy your oyster feast!