Sydney rock oysters with mignonette
Freshly shucked oysters with shallot vinegar, from New South Wales
Sydney rock oysters grow in the estuaries of the New South Wales coast, from the Hawkesbury River to Merimbula, and are the pride of the Sydney fish market, slurped by the dozen with a glass of something cold on summer afternoons. They are smaller and creamier than Pacific oysters, with a rich, mineral taste. A sharp shallot and vinegar mignonette is all they need. These oysters are eaten raw, so they are not for pregnant women, young children or anyone with a weakened immune system; for them, grill the oysters for 3–4 minutes until the edges curl. Buy from a trusted fishmonger and eat them the day you buy them. A common mistake is rinsing opened oysters under the tap, which washes away their flavourful juice. Chef's tip: shuck them just before serving and keep them on crushed ice.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the oysters
- 2 ¼ lb crushed iceto serve
For the mignonette
- 1 shallotvery finely diced
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- ½ tsp black peppercoarsely cracked
- 1 lemonin wedges
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Mix 1 shallot, ¼ cup red wine vinegar and ½ tsp black pepper and leave for at least 10 minutes for the flavours to blend.
5 minStep 2: Check every one of the 24 live Sydney rock oysters in the shell: the shell must be tightly closed or close when tapped, feel heavy and smell fresh of the sea. Throw away any that are open, cracked, light or smell bad.
3 minStep 3: Hold each oyster flat side up in a folded cloth and work an oyster knife into the hinge, twisting to pop it open. Slide the knife along the top shell to cut the muscle, then lift off the top shell and loosen the oyster underneath, keeping all the juice. Discard any that look dry or smell off once opened.
10 minStep 4: Set the oysters on a platter of 2 ¼ lb crushed ice and serve at once with the mignonette and 1 lemon.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 90 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sydney rock oysters with mignonette take?
- About 15 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of shallot?
- Half an onion per 2 shallots.
- What can I use instead of red wine vinegar?
- Sherry vinegar or white wine vinegar, same amount.
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