Grilled Oysters
Ingredients
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- 2 cups coarse kosher salt
- 8 ounces unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic – finely minced
- 1 each lemon – zested and juiced
- 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley – finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper – freshly ground
- 24 each oysters in shell
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese – finely grated
- lemon – cut into wedges (for serving)
Instructions
1. Preheat a grill to high heat (450–500°F/230–260°C). Set a large cast-iron skillet or sturdy disposable rimmed pan on the grates and pour in the coarse kosher salt to make a level bed that will keep shells steady.
2. Melt the unsalted butter in a small saucepan over low heat until just liquid, 2–3 minutes. Add the garlic and warm gently until fragrant, 30–60 seconds; remove from heat and stir in the lemon (zested and juiced), flat-leaf parsley, hot sauce, kosher salt, and black pepper.
3. Shuck the oysters in shell, working over a bowl to catch any juices, and loosen each from the bottom shell while keeping them nestled in the deep half.
4. Set them into the salt-lined pan so they sit level. Spoon about 1–2 teaspoons of the warm mixture over each and sprinkle the parmesan cheese evenly on top.
5. Slide the pan to a hot spot on the grill, close the lid, and cook until the oysters are plump, edges just curl, and the tops are bubbling with light browning, 4–6 minutes.
6. Carefully transfer the pan from the grill. Let rest 1 minute, then serve immediately with lemon wedges (for serving).
Grilled Oysters are a celebration of briny sweetness and smoky heat, cooked right in their shells so the juices mingle with a rich, savory butter. The texture turns from silky to just-plump as high heat kisses the edges, while garlic, herbs, and a touch of citrus brighten the natural salinity. A final snowfall of aged cheese melts into the butter, creating a luxurious sauce meant to be slurped with each shell.
Oysters have long been cooked over live fire along American coasts, from the Gulf to the Pacific Northwest. The now-famous New Orleans-style chargrilled approach popularized the use of garlicky butter and cheese on the half shell, translating raw-bar purity into backyard grill pleasure. Today, regional variations abound, but the essentials remain: intense heat, shells as vessels, and a quick cook that respects the oyster’s delicate character.