• 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.

    1 dozen

    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
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Click to Remove Ads

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces salted 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

    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.
    Rate this recipe!If you loved this recipe, give it a rating. Let us know what works, what didn't and whether you made any adjustments that can help other cooks.

    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. 

    « Kale and White Bean Soup
    What's the best bone broth? »

    Primary Sidebar

    Reader Favorites

    • Wild Mushroom Pâté
    • Rose Water
    • How to Make CBD Oil
    • Easy Sourdough Starter
    • Bone Broth
    • Easy Fermented Hot Sauce

    In Season Now

    • Cauliflower Tabbouleh
    • Brussels Sprout Slaw
    • Einkorn Apple Cake
    • Pomegranate Spritzer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Cooking Club

    • Join the Club
    • Meal Plans + Downloads
    • Sign-in

    Seasonal Cooking

    • Soup Recipes
    • Stew Recipes
    • Winter Vegetable Recipes
    • Winter Fruit Recipes

    Connect

    • About
    • FAQ
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Privacy Policy + Disclaimer + Terms and Conditions + Affiliate Disclosure + Copyright Notice + Accessibility

    Copyright © 2023 Nourished Media LLC. All rights reserved.