Chef Steve Slazinik’s Oyster Stew

By | |
Print recipe
Chef Steve Slazinik’s Oyster Stew
Serves 4-6
Meal type Bacon, Garlic, Oysters, Shallots
Season Fall, Winter

Ingredients

  • 1 stick butter, cubed

  • 4 tbsp flour

  • 4 cups light cream

  • 3 cups milk
6-8 slices bacon, cut in ½” pieces ((raw bacon is not easy to cut - Chef Steve's tip: lay bacon slices out separately on a plate and place in freezer for about 15 minutes - this will result in a nice clean and even cut!))
  • 
½ cup shallots, chopped

  • 1½ tsp garlic, minced

  • 1 lb fresh oysters with their liquor (juice)
  • 
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 
¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp sea salt (if needed)


Note

Garnish & Serving Suggestions, fried leeks
,oyster crackers
,Tabasco sauce

Directions

How-to
Prepare Cream Base
1 In a medium saucepan over low heat, slowly melt butter, whisking often so it will not burn
Whisk in flour slowly to prevent clumps.
2 Cook mixture 1 minute, but don't allow it to gain color.
3 Slowly whisk in light cream and milk. Allow to simmer and thicken over medium heat, 15-20 minutes, stirring every 2-3 minutes to keep a smooth consistency
.
Cook Bacon, Shallots, Garlic & Oysters
4 While sauce is cooking, in a separate medium saucepan over medium heat, add bacon pieces and allow to cook and render, about 7-10 minutes or until brown
.
5 Add shallots and stir until translucent, about 3 minutes

6 Add garlic and saute 2 minutes

7 Add oysters with their liquor (juice) and stir until the edges of the oysters start to curl, 2-4 minutes

8 Add Cream Base & Spices
Add Cream Base & Spices
9 When milk mixture has reached its desired consistency (thick enough to coat the back of a spoon), whisk into the saucepan of aromatics and oysters
.
10 Season with cayenne pepper. Reduce heat to low, and allow all elements to simmer and combine flavors, about 15 minutes

11 Season with ¼ tsp black pepper and mix well

12 Taste and, only if needed, add ¼ tsp sea salt. Do this last, as the oysters will have a natural saltiness, and you don’t want to risk over salting

13 Let simmer 10 more minutes and it's ready to serve.