Have you ever tasted oysters? If so, then you are lucky, because this sea product is considered a real specialty. In case you have not managed to try this fantastic product yet, but wish to cook it properly to surprise your family and friends, then you should be aware of the major cooking and processing techniques that will make the dish stand out in the crowd.
Processing Oysters: Tips to Remember
Oysters are medium-sized scallops, which are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and proteins. As far as the meat of oysters is hidden inside large shells, the first thing you should do is to clean the shells from sand and seaweed. Then you should thoroughly wash them in cool water. To make the process more effective, it is recommended to fill the pot with water, add a bit of alt and wash the shells there.
When opening the shells, it is better to start with the thickest part of them. Take a sharp knife and start cutting and opening the shells one by one. Take the meat of oysters away from the shells and wash it in a cold salty water again. This is needed to clean the meat from the rest of the sand before proceeding to the cooking process.
Cooking Methods
Have you made up your mind to cook delicious oyster soup? There is nothing strange about the fact because the meat of these sea scallops contains lots of nitrogenous substances, which are easily dissolved in hot water. The prevailing amount of these ingredients are the proteins and amino acids. When boiled, these substances are accumulated in the broth, which is recommended to people suffering from different diseases. To cook such a nutritious oyster soup, just place the meat into cold water, add onion, salt, parsley and boil on small fire for 10 minutes. The recipe is very simple, but the result will exceed your expectations!
Basically, oysters can be served in three different ways, namely fresh, boiled or fried (baked). When you serve them fresh, you should open the shells without removing the meat from them. Just place the opened shells on the ice and add slices of fresh lemon. Your guests will just have to juice a few drops of lemon on oysters and eat them. This will give the dish pleasant and fresh taste.
Baked oysters are served in a bit different way. Having washed and opened the shells, place them into the fireproof baking form, dredge with grated hard cheese and bake in the oven for the specified period of time. Usually, the entire process does not take it longer than 20 minutes. Hopefully, these simple recommendations will help you make your oyster dishes delicious and unusual!