Description
Barefoot Contessa’s oyster stew blends creamy richness with delicate maritime flavors from fresh oysters and simple ingredients. Coastal comfort emerges through careful preparation, inviting you to savor this classic New England-inspired dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 dozen oysters (shucked, with liquid reserved)
- 2 cups (480 ml) milk
- 6 tbsps (85 g) butter, divided
- 1 cup chopped onions
- ½ cup chopped celery
- 2 tbsps (15 g) flour
- 1 tbsp chopped garlic
- ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
- Salt (to taste)
- Cayenne pepper (to taste)
- Fresh black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Roux Foundation: Gently melt butter in a spacious sauté pan over medium heat, whisking flour continuously for 3-4 minutes until a light golden base develops, creating a smooth thickening agent for the stew.
- Aromatic Infusion: Remove pan from heat and fold in finely chopped onions and celery, allowing their delicate flavors to meld with the roux while releasing their subtle fragrance.
- Liquid Harmony: Pour milk and reserved oyster liquid into the pan, stirring thoroughly to create a creamy, uniform consistency that will serve as the stew’s luxurious backdrop.
- Seasoning Symphony: Sprinkle sea salt, cayenne pepper, and freshly ground black pepper into the mixture, awakening a complex flavor profile that complements the delicate seafood.
- Oyster Integration: Return pan to heat, bringing liquid to a gentle simmer and introducing minced garlic, fresh parsley, and plump oysters, allowing the ingredients to dance together for 3-4 minutes.
- Final Touch: Watch as oysters curl slightly at their edges, signaling perfect doneness, then incorporate remaining butter to add a final luxurious sheen before removing from heat.
- Serving Presentation: Ladle the steaming, aromatic stew into warm serving bowls, presenting a velvety, oceanic delicacy ready to be savored immediately.
Notes
- Roux Mastery: Whisk flour and butter meticulously for 3-4 minutes to develop a golden, flavorful base that prevents lumpy texture and enhances overall stew richness.
- Temperature Control: Maintain gentle heat to prevent milk from scorching and oysters from becoming rubbery, ensuring delicate seafood remains tender and succulent.
- Oyster Cooking Indicator: Watch for slight curling edges when cooking oysters, which signals perfect doneness and prevents overcooking that can make them tough and chewy.
- Seasoning Balance: Layer flavors gradually with salt, cayenne, and black pepper to create depth without overwhelming the delicate oyster’s natural maritime essence.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg