Even though they are delicious all year round, oysters are even more fleshy and juicy during the fall and winter months, and can be found in the grocery store’s fishmonger department. While you might like to enjoy them raw with a little lemon juice and mignonette sauce, there are also a lot of other ways to prepare them. Here are some original recipes for any occasion!

1. In soups

Shucked oysters cook very quickly. Simply add them to a boiling broth and let them simmer for 5 to 10 minutes so they cook evenly. You can make a delicious seafood chowder, a creamy oyster soup, a fragrant Thai soup or an autumn-inspired soup with squash and artichoke hearts.

2. Hot and au gratin

For warm, gourmet oysters, look no further than oysters Rockefeller. Hollandaise sauce, spinach, breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese are placed in the shell, which is then browned to a crisp delight. There are also many other ways to cook oysters: Simply add tomatoes, chorizo and a little strong cheddar to the half shells, or try garlic butter with Parmesan shavings.

3. Comfort food

Oysters are so often slurped from their shells that we sometimes forget that they can be used in recipes in the same way as other molluscs, such as clams or mussels. However, you should remove the flesh from the shells before incorporating them into recipes. They make a superb vol-au-vent where the juice of the oysters is integrated into the sauce. Chop the oysters if you want more even-sized bites. They are also amazing in a pasta dish with tomatoes. But avoid cooking oysters for too long, as they may become rubbery.

4. In a cocktail

Oysters are synonymous with celebration! Get together with family and friends to open a case of them in the kitchen. And what better way to add cheer to this convivial event than with an oyster-themed cocktail? Incorporate a little oyster juice into a martini or even place an oyster at the bottom of a glass of champagne or sparkling wine. We also suggest a cocktail made with tequila, beer and hot sauce to drink in a shooter glass topped with a fresh oyster.

5. Fried

For a nice aperitif, prepare fried oysters with simple lemon wedges or tartar sauce. For golden oysters, soak them in a mixture of beaten egg and beer and dredge them in breadcrumbs, before browning them in a pan with oil. You can also prepare a batter and cook them in the deep fryer for 3 to 4 minutes.

6. Smoked oysters

Do you know about smoked oysters? They can be found in the canned fish department at the grocery store. These smoky oysters are a wise choice for creating quick and tasty appetizers, no matter the season. Make bites served on cucumber slices with ricotta or make rolls with slices of bread, spicy mayonnaise and cream cheese.

Want to eat some oysters? Here is an article to learn all about this mighty mollusc, from the different ways to prepare them, to how to keep them fresh, to the right technique to open them safely.

Read the article: The ABCs of eating oysters.