Classic Oyster Stew With Fennel Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • The anise flavor of fennel infuses the whole-milk base and works wonderfully with the oysters.
  • Whole milk and butter make an oyster stew that's just rich enough without being heavy.

I have a playlist on my computer titled "Snow Songs," which I put together many years ago while snowflakes as big as cotton balls drifted slowly past my apartment windows. The tracks on it are all wildly different, but each manages to capture, at least to my ear, the soothing calm that comes with such a soft, heavy snowfall. On it is Caetano Veloso's rendition of the Mexican ballad"Cucurrucucú Paloma,"followed by Chaka Khan's piano-backed love song"Love Me Still."After that comes Erik Satie'sTrois Gymnopédies, composed in 1888, and Led Zeppelin's"The Rain Song,"which maybe should have been called TheSnowSong. Each, in its own way, is both spare yet comforting—perhaps it's no accident that we describe snow as forming a blanket, a word that conjures nothing but coziness.

Classic Oyster Stew With Fennel Recipe (1)

If I could pick just one dish to accompany that playlist, it would be oyster stew.

You'll see a lot of different oyster stew recipes out there. Some are thickened with flour, or enriched with cream, or flavored with bits of smoky bacon that make you think of a smoldering fire with every bite. Those are all good, but they're not quite the type I have in mind. The kind I want—the kind I find most comforting—is a little more lean, even verging on austere.

Now, don't run away just yet. This isn't some ascetic version of oyster stew made with skim milk or anything horrible like that. It's rich in its own way, thanks to a generous amount of butter and whole milk—that's the comforting part. But it's clean, too, unencumbered by pork fat and flour, allowing the oysters to deliver their full flavor of frigid, briny sea.

As you'll see here, oyster stew is really more of a soup, in the way a lot of fish stews are. It's not slow-cooked in the least. In fact, it's one of the quickest soups I know.

I start by dicing aromatic vegetables, like onion, celery, and fennel if I have it. If I don't, I'll add a splash of Pernod right before adding the milk later.

Classic Oyster Stew With Fennel Recipe (2)

Then I melt a generous pat of butter in a saucepan and cook the diced vegetables in it. A few sprigs of thyme or a bay leaf deepens the flavor. As soon as the vegetables are softened, but not even remotely browned, I add the milk and bring the mixture just to a simmer.

Then I slide in the oysters and their liquor.

Classic Oyster Stew With Fennel Recipe (4)

You can shuck the oysters yourself, if you're up for it (if so, take a look atour guide to shucking, or check out the video below).

If not, you can use one of those pop-top tubs of pre-shucked fresh oysters that most fishmongers sell. In cooked dishes, a lot of the finer nuances of freshly shucked oysters are lost anyway, so you won't be making much of a sacrifice in terms of flavor.

Classic Oyster Stew With Fennel Recipe (5)

I cook the oysters, still at a bare simmer, just until they've firmed up and their edges curl. It doesn't take more than a few minutes.

A little salt, a little pepper, some fresh herbs—parsley, fennel fronds, tarragon, and chives all work—and it's ready. It's not thick like aclam chowder, or hearty like abeef stew, but a steamy bowl manages to soothe in its own perfectly restrained way. Snowstorm not required.

Classic Oyster Stew With Fennel Recipe (6)

November 2015

Recipe Details

Classic Oyster Stew With Fennel Recipe

Active20 mins

Total20 mins

Serves4 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (42g)

  • 2 medium shallots, finely diced (about 50g)

  • 1/2 medium head fennel, finely diced (about 50g) (see note)

  • 1 large stalk celery, finely diced (about 50g)

  • 2 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 10g)

  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 dried bay leaf

  • 1 quart (950ml)whole milk

  • 2 dozen oysters, shucked, liquor reserved (about 1 1/2 cups; 350g) (see note)

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • Minced parsley, chives, tarragon, and/or fennel fronds, for garnish

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallots, fennel, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add thyme or bay leaf.

  2. Add milk and bring to a bare simmer. Add oysters and their liquor and return to a bare simmer; adjust heat as necessary to prevent boiling. Simmer until oysters are just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Discard thyme or bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls, garnish with herbs, and serve.

    Classic Oyster Stew With Fennel Recipe (7)

Special Equipment

Large saucepan

Notes

If you don't have fennel, you can substitute 3 tablespoons of Pernod, added just before the milk.

If you don't want to shuck your own oysters, feel free to use pre-shucked fresh ones (along with their liquor) from your fishmonger.

Read More

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  • How to Serve Raw Oysters at Home
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  • Spicy Korean Seafood Soup
Classic Oyster Stew With Fennel Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the tradition of oyster stew? ›

Oyster stew came to this country with Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine. Catholic tradition banned meat on Christmas Eve so many Irish families ate a soup or stew of fish. Oysters were substituted for fish and it became a traditional Christmas dish for many, whether Irish or not.

Why did my oyster stew curdle? ›

The reason why the dairy in the stew is curdling is because the oysters have an enzyme that, through a chemical reaction, will affect the proteins within the milk. The way to fix this is to temper the milk and oysters to the same temperature and to remember to add the oysters to the milk,not the other way around.

How do you use oyster liquor? ›

Enhance Your Sauce: Oyster liquor can also be used to enhance the flavor of sauces and dressings. It can be added to mignonette sauce, co*cktail sauce, or even a simple squeeze of lemon to bring out the natural flavors of the oyster.

What is the name of the famous oyster dish? ›

Oysters Rockefeller

First created at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans in 1899, this famous baked oyster dish was named for the Rockefeller family because of its incredibly rich sauce. Try making it at home with star chef Emeril Lagasse's expert recipe.

Why do you eat oyster stew on Christmas Eve? ›

The tradition of serving oyster stew on Christmas Eve originated with Irish immigrants, the vast majority of whom were Catholic. Eating meat the evening before a religious holiday was prohibited, and the Christmas Eve tradition in Ireland was to prepare a simple stew of dried ling fish, milk, butter and pepper.

Why do you not chew oysters? ›

We're often asked, “Are you supposed to chew oysters?” and we're here to tell you that despite what you may have heard, it's not recommended to swallow an oyster whole. Biting into the oyster allows flavorful juices to escape and enhances the overall savoring experience.

How long will oyster stew keep in the refrigerator? ›

Allow the oyster stew to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

Is oyster soup good for you? ›

Not only are oysters delicious, they are extremely nutritious. Oysters are an excellent source of zinc, iron, calcium, and selenium, as well as vitamin A and vitamin B12. Each serving of six oysters contains 43 calories, 4.8 grams of protein, 1.4 grams of fat, and 2.3 grams of carbohydrates.

What should you not drink with oysters? ›

avoid eating oysters and drinking spirits at the same time.

What alcohol pairs with oysters? ›

Our Top Picks for Oyster Beverage Pairings
  • CHAMPAGNE (AND OTHER DRY SPARKLINE WINES)
  • MUSCADET (AND CRISP WHITE WINES)
  • GUINESS (AND OTHER STOUTS)
  • GIN.
  • CITRUS-BASED NON ALCOHOLIC DRINKS.

Why do you put lemon juice on oysters? ›

Lemon juice on an oyster is an easy way to enhance its natural briny flavor. Think of this as the purist's version of an oyster sauce. Just a dash of lemon juice lets you appreciate all of the oyster's flavors by complementing and enhancing them.

Why do people eat oyster stew on New Year's Eve? ›

Serving this warm, delicious, and nutritious dish on New Year's is a long-held tradition worldwide that is said to boost libido and fertility. This holiday ritual actually began with the first Irish immigrants who came to the U.S. in droves in the mid-19th century.

Where is oyster stew a tradition? ›

It is popular in the United States and in The Gambia. In New England cuisine, oyster stew is often associated with Thanksgiving. In Southern United States cuisine, oyster stew is often prepared on Christmas Eve.

Where is oyster stew from? ›

History. There are many different reasons oyster stew became so popular, even in the Midwest. It started on the East Coast, though, with the first English settlers arriving at Plymouth Rock, oysters were a reliable and tasty source of nutrition. Native Americans had already been harvesting them for at least 3,000 years ...

What is the myth of perpetual stew? ›

Perpetual stews are speculated to have been common in medieval cuisine, often as pottage or pot-au-feu: Bread, water or ale, and a companaticum ('that which goes with the bread') from the cauldron, the original stockpot or pot-au-feu that provided an ever-changing broth enriched daily with whatever was available.

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