Garlicky Bacon Smoked Oysters Recipes

BARBECUED OYSTERS WITH BACON AND GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together butter, lemon juice, and garlic; set aside.
• Preheat a grill: If using a charcoal grill, make a fire in your grill with the coals placed off to one side. When the coals are completely covered in gray ash, hold your hand about 5 inches above the grill grid; count how many seconds you can comfortably leave it there. When you can hold it there for 3 to 4 seconds, you have medium heat and are ready to grill. If you are using a gas grill, heat the grill for 15 minutes with the lid closed. Before beginning to cook, reduce the temperature by turning the knobs to medium-high.
• Place oysters on grill near, but not directly over, coals. Top each oyster with 1 teaspoon barbecue sauce and 1 teaspoon butter mixture. Cook until oysters start to ruffle around the edges and juice is bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle oysters with bacon and serve.

FRIED OYSTERS WITH BACON, GARLIC, AND SAGE

Steps:

• Whisk rice flour, salt, and cayenne in a medium bowl. Toss oysters in flour mixture to coat well, then top with a thin layer of dredge (make sure that none of the oysters are peeking out). Cover with plastic wrap and chill in dredge until ready to fry.
• Cook bacon in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until bacon is browned and crisp, 12-15 minutes. Transfer bacon to a small bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Pour half of bacon fat into a small heatproof bowl or measuring cup and set aside. Add 1/2 cup butter to drippings in skillet and heat over medium-high. As soon as butter is foaming, remove half of oysters from dredge and shake off any excess. Add to skillet along with 3 garlic cloves and cook, gently shaking skillet to baste oysters with fat and turning oysters occasionally, until golden brown and crisp all over, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer oysters and garlic to paper towels and let drain.
• Pour off fat in skillet; discard. Wipe out skillet and return to medium-high. Heat remaining 1/2 cup butter and reserved bacon fat in skillet. As soon as butter is foaming, repeat process with remaining oysters and garlic. Transfer to paper towels and let drain.
• Cook sage in same skillet just until crisp, about 30 seconds. Transfer to paper towels.
• Arrange oysters and garlic on a platter and top with fried sage and bacon. Serve with mustard.
• Do Ahead
• Oysters can be dredged 4 hours ahead. Keep chilled.

GARLICKY BACON SMOKED OYSTERS

Steps:

• Cut the bacon strips in thirds.
• Wrap a bacon slice around each oyster and place a toothpick through to hold it in place.
• In a medium skillet, heat the oil, and add the garlic.
• Cook the wrapped oysters in oil until the bacon is crisp.
• Remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel.

FIRE-ROASTED GARLICKY OYSTERS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to high heat.
• Combine the butter, garlic, the juice from the lemons and a few pinches of salt and pepper in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the butter melts. Stir together the parsley, Parmesan and Romano in a medium bowl.
• Arrange the oyster shells on the grill grate. Spoon the butter mixture over the oysters. Add the bread to the grill cut-side down and cook until grill marks appear, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove the bread from the grill. Cover the grill with the lid and cook until the oysters begin to reduce in size, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Spoon the parsley mixture over each oyster, cover the grill and cook until the cheese is melted and the oysters are cooked to desired doneness, 30 seconds to 1 minute longer. Remove the oysters to a serving platter. Serve immediately with the bread.

OYSTERS 'N' BACON

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until shrunken, but not crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• In a shallow baking dish, whisk together the sugar, soy sauce and garlic with a fork. Wrap each oyster with a piece of bacon, and secure with toothpicks. Place wrapped oysters into the dish with the sauce.
• Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until the sauce has thickened and bacon is nicely crisped at the edges.