Delicious Baked Oysters

These easy Baked Oysters are an easy, yet elegant appetizer that’s perfect for special occasions or entertaining guests. Each plump oyster is topped with a savoury mixture of garlic, fresh herbs, butter, and grated Parmesan cheese, creating a rich and flavourful combination that complements the briny sweetness of the oysters.

Growing up in the middle of the prairies, seafood was always a special treat (and it still is). When I want to serve my friends and family something special, I bring out the seafood! It’s not a party without these mouthwatering Crispy Coconut Panko Fried Shrimp and I’m always happy to whip up a batch of Old Bay Crab Cakes, each with their own dipping sauce of course!

Delicious Baked Oysters

Special occasions call for exceptional bites and this baked oyster recipe is as special as it gets. Sure, you can enjoy them as raw oysters. However, cooking shucked oysters really adds that little something special to your event.

Now you may be thinking to yourself, “I have never shucked an oyster before, why would I start now”? Honestly you can ask your fishmonger to shuck the oysters for you. However, I think learning how to shuck oysters is a right of passage for anyone that loves fresh oysters and food in general.

When you have that skill mastered, you can enjoy oysters in many other recipes or simply eat them raw with your favourite accompaniment. I am partial to raw oysters with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a spoonful of shallot mignonette.

Baking oysters in the oven takes mere minutes and the aroma will lure your guests to the kitchen. Now is a great time to get interactive and teach them how to shuck oysters. Don’t forget that final finesse of finely chopped fresh parsley over the oysters before everyone digs in!

How to Choose Raw Oysters

Before we get to the shucking, here are a few tips and tricks for buying fresh oysters. My biggest tip is TALK to your fishmonger because these guys love to talk about their product. You’ll find out all you need to know and probably a little bit more.

For this baked oysters recipe, large oysters over 3.5 inches long, with a meatier texture and a stronger briny flavour will work best. The waters where oysters grow influence their flavour, size, and shape. The Atlantic Ocean is colder and saltier than the Pacific Ocean, which results in a different flavour profile and size. 

If you live in North America, larger (meatier) oysters mostly come from the west coast or Pacific Ocean but are less salty than smaller, firmer east coast oysters. Try to find either the largest east coast oysters or the most saline west coast oysters for baking purposes.

• Buy oysters the same day you intend to serve them.
• Check that the oyster shells are not broken or damaged and are tightly shut. If the shell isn’t closed, give it a gentle tap. If the oyster is alive, the shell will close.
• Give it the smell test. Fresh oysters should smell like the ocean and lightly briny and not overly fishy.
• Check the weight in your hand. Oysters should feel a bit heavy because a freshly harvested oyster will still have liquor (ocean brine) inside.

How to Store Oysters

Simply put, the fresher the oyster the better it tastes. After you bring your carefully chosen oysters home, you need to keep them alive until it’s shucking time. The best way to do this is to keep them as cold as possible (around 2 °C or 35.6 °F) without letting them freeze.

The best way to do this is to arrange them on a bed of crushed ice. Be sure to check that they don’t get submerged as the ice melts and replenish ice as needed.

Other Ingredients in this Recipe

You will need the following ingredients: fresh oysters, unsalted butter, garlic, fresh parsley, fresh chives, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, lemon wedges, rock salt. You can use any salty, hard cheese instead of Parmesan if you prefer. Pecorino is a great alternative.

Feel free to add additional fresh herbs to create more flavour. I do recommend sticking with fresh herbs for this recipe.

You will need the following supplies: a baking sheet, a cut resistant glove (optional), and an oyster shucking knife that fits comfortably in your hand.

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How to Shuck an Oyster

Fill a baking sheet with rock salt until it is completely covered. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).

Start by cleaning the oysters. Use a brush to scrub the oysters under cool running water, removing any sand or debris. To shuck the oysters, place the oyster cup (the deepest side) side down on a cutting board. Use a towel (or shucking glove) to wrap your hand, just in case the knife slips.

Hold the oyster down firmly while you place the oyster knife in the hinge or the small opening where the two shell halves meet. Wiggle or twist the knife until the two halves have split open. This may take some pressure depending on the oysters.

Run the knife along the edge of the oyster shell to fully separate the top and bottom. Gently run the knife along the top to cut the muscle from the top half.

Remove and discard the top half and place the bottom, along with the juices inside, on the baking sheet full of rock salt. The rock salt is there to keep the oyster level and prevent the liquor from spilling. Repeat this process with remaining oysters.

Once all the oysters are shucked and arranged on the baking sheet, clean off their edges and remove any debris.

How to Make Baked Oysters

In a small bowl, mix the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, chopped chives, grated Parmesan cheese, salt and freshly ground black pepper until well combined. Set aside.

Spoon a small amount of the garlic herb butter mixture onto each oyster, spreading it evenly over the top.

Place the baking sheet or dish with the oysters in the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the oysters are cooked through and the butter is melted and bubbly.

Remove baked oysters from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving. Serve with lemon wedges.

Hi! I’m Bernice Hill and I am the sole recipe developer, photographer, and writer at Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

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