• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Nourished Kitchen

  • Philosophy
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    » Home » Recipes » Sustainable Seafood Recipes » Grilled Oysters with Tarragon Butter

    Grilled Oysters with Tarragon Butter

    Posted: Apr 18, 2018 · Updated: Oct 20, 2020 by Jenny McGruther · This site earns income from ads, affiliate links, and sponsorships.

    When an oyster is grilled, it retains its delicacy, and yet, is also fortified by fire and smoke which gives the oyster an ethereal richness that tends toward meatiness. Grilled oysters partner with tarragon particularly well, as tarragon's fresh, green licorice-like flavor is delicate enough to balance oysters without overpowering them.

    Jump to Recipe

    Grilled Oysters with Tarragon Butter

    How to Grill Oysters

    The most popular way to grill oysters is to set them, cup-side down, on a grill and allow them to cook until they open up just slightly before you pry away the top shell and add a pat of butter.  This method allows the oysters to steam a bit in their own juices.

    Ever the contrarians, my husband and I prefer a different approach.  First, we shuck the oysters, and then set them on a grill, cup-side down, dropping a spoonful of seasoned butter onto each oyster. Their juices will warm and begin to bubble, the butter will melt and baste the oysters as they cook and the smoke perfumes the delicate shellfish just enough to give them a wonderfully rich, meaty flavor.

    Grilled Oysters Recipe

    Tarragon's sweet, licorice-like notes pairs well with briny oysters left just slightly smoky from the grill. Grilling oysters leaves them wonderfully meaty, and further enriched with butter. Choose large oysters, if you can, as they'll shrink, slightly, while they cook. For people concerned about eating shellfish raw, grilled oysters make a nice alternative.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Servings: 1 dozen
    Print Save Recipe Saved!

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces butter
    • 1 medium shallot diced
    • ¼ cup loosely packed tarragon leaves
    • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
    • ⅛ teaspoon finely ground real salt
    • 12 large oysters order them here

    Instructions

    • Toss the butter, shallot, tarragon, vinegar and sea salt into food processor, and process on high speed until uniformly combined.
    • Preheat the grill to medium.
    • Shuck the oysters, reserving as much juice as you can. Top each oyster with about 2 teaspoons prepared tarragon butter.
    • Place the oysters cup-side down on the grill. Cover the grill and allow the oysters to cook until the butter melts, and their juices begin to bubble - about 10 minutes. Remove from the grill and serve warm.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @nourishedkitchen or tag #nourishedkitchen!

    Where to Find Sustainably-Farmed Oysters

    Oysters are particularly nutrient-dense, rich in vitamins B12 and D as well as the minerals zinc and selenium while also being very low in mercury.

    They are also sustainably farmed, taking relatively little space to produce large volumes of oysters, providing safety and shelter for other sea creatures, and they require no supplementary feed, only clean water.  Seafood Watch,  a program of the Monterrey Bay Aquarium that ranks seafood choices based upon overall sustainability including ecological, bycatch and species impact, consistently ranks oysters as a "best choice."

    Cooking with Oysters and Nutrient-Dense Seafood

    Seafoods are particularly nutrient-dense foods, and they also feature prominently among the diets of long-lived peoples (source) as well as the traditional diets of some of the healthiest peoples studied by nutrition pioneer and researcher, Weston Price (source).  They tend to be high in protein, rich in B vitamins, vitamin D and minerals like iodine, zinc, iron and selenium as well as omega-3 fatty acids, depending on the variety.

    And while there's inevitably concern about oceanic pollution and its effects on the nutritive quality of seafoods, it's important to remember that you are still better off eating seafood than avoiding it (source),  particularly when you make choices that are low in mercury, high in nutrients and wild-caught or sustainably produced, like oysters.

    Here are some of our favorite ways to cook and serve nutrient-dense seafoods.

    Salmon with Honey Chipotle Bourbon Butter is marvelously easy to prepare.  Salmon is one of the few fish rich enough to stand up to the heat and intensity of chipotle chiles, and it's worth it.

    Salmon Baked in Cream and Herbs is another favorite of Nourished Kitchen readers.  Salmon bakes in herb-infused cream which yields a thick, savory sauce.

    Fresh Clam Chowder is also lovely, and unlike heavy chowders thickened with a floury roux, this chowder is lighter, thinner and, owing to the basil drizzle, brighter, too.

    Korean-Style Seafood Stew is positively brimming with fresh fish, prawns and nutrient-dense seafoods, partnered with the vibrant flavor of chiles, ginger, garlic, scallions and fresh vegetables.</h2)

    « Kale and White Bean Soup
    What's the best bone broth? Here's how to tell (plus 3 brands to try). »

    Primary Sidebar

    Young woman in glasses smilint, Black and White Headshot

    Hi, I'm Jenny! I'm a nutritional therapist, herbalist and the author of three natural foods cookbooks. You'll find nourishing bone broths, simple herbal remedies, and loads of fermented goodness on this site.

    More about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • Rose Water
    • How to Make CBD Oil
    • Easy Sourdough Starter
    • Bone Broth
    • Easy Fermented Hot Sauce
    • Sour Pickles

    Recent Posts

    • Caraway Pots and Pans
    • Marinated Chickpeas
    • Bachelor's Jam
    • Dandelion Salad
    • Rhubarb Shrub
    • Cucumber Dill Salad

    In Season Now

    • Strawberry Wine
    • Fruit Kvass
    • Bell Pepper Salad
    • Cucumber Kimchi

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Explore

    • Nourishing Recipes
    • Broth Recipes
    • Fermented Vegetables
    • Fermented Drinks
    • Cultured Dairy
    • Herbal Remedies
    • Sourdough

    Seasonal Cooking

    • Soup Recipes
    • Stew Recipes
    • Summer Fruit Recipes
    • Summer Vegetable Recipes

    Connect

    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Workshops
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Privacy Policy + Affiliate Disclosure + Copyright Notice + Accessibility

    Copyright © 2021 Nourished Media LLC. All rights reserved.