Oyster Dressing Recipe, Oyster Stuffing Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2024)

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This is the dressing of oyster lover dreams! The oyster nectar makes the dressing so moist and flavorful. What’s not to love about a dressing that includes fresh oysters? Oyster Dressing can often be one of the best parts of a Thanksgiving dinner. This dressing must be served as a side dish and not as a turkey stuffing in the turkey.

This recipe was shared with me by Doc Lawrence and his Sips Across America columns. The recipe is by Chef Josh Butler, Executive Chef at the Florida Governor’s Mansion in Tallassee, FL.

Oyster Dressing Recipe, Oyster Stuffing Recipe, Whats Cooking America (1)Photo Credit: Matthew Mead, The Associated Press

LearnHow To Shuck Oysters.

Pleasecheck out my Thanksgiving Turkey dinner menu which includes Grandma’s Oyster Dressing.

History of Oyster Dressing:

Oyster dressing is a favorite of New Englanders that dates back to the 18th century in America as oysters were predominantly found along the eastern coast of North America. Oysters had been used with or without bread crumbs for stuffing poultry or fish over 335 years. The tradition of oyster dressing was brought over from British colonists that settled in America. In Britain, oysters were added to stuffing that was more traditionally used in fowl (chicken), fish, calves he ad, leg of mutton, hares (rabbit) and pigs.

Oysters used to be more plentiful and the most commonly eaten shellfish in America. They were cheap and plentiful enough for the working class to afford. Many early American cooks stuffed their turkeys and chicken with oysters since it was an inexpensive source of protein. Turkeys were very expensive and adding the oysters helped ensure there was enough protein to feed a large group. As the express wagons and railroads made it more possible to transport goods in the mid-19th century, the oyster market was able to expand and set off a national oyster addiction. Fresh, raw oysters were commonly served in taverns as oysters were a cheap food to serve with beer and liquor. By 1850, every major town in America had an Oyster saloon also known as oyster bars, oyster house or raw bar.

1685 – Earliest cookbook reference: The Accomplisht Cook, London, Sauce with Oysters and Bacon, The oysters were cooked and mixed with spices and herbs stuffed in the pullets belly and roasted.

1796 – American Cookery by Amelia Simmons, Meats – To smother a Fowl in Oysters: “Gill the bird with dry oysters, and sew up and boil in water just sufficient to cover the bird, salt and season to your taste – when done tender, put it into a deep dish and pour over it a pint of stewed oysters, well buttered and peppered, garnish a turkey with sprigs of parsley or leaves of celery: a fowl is best with a parsley sauce

1832 – The Cook’s Own Book: Being A Complete Culinary Encyclopedia, by A Boston Housekeeper. Chicken Stuffing recipe – “Fill your chickens with young oysters cut small, truffles, parsley and spices and roast them.”

1880 – Miss Parloa’s New Cook Book and Marketing Guide by Maria Parloa – Boiled Turkey – “Chop half a head of celery very fine. Mix with it one quart of bread crumbs, two scant table-spoonfuls of salt, half a teaspoonful of pepper, two heaping table-spoonfuls of butter and two eggs. Stuff the turkey with this; sew up and truss. The stuffing may be made the same as above, only substitute oysters for celery, and serve with oyster sauce.”

References:
The Washington Post, Food Section – A Short Course On the History of 8 Thanksgiving Foods, by Amanda Moniz, November 22, 2013
New England Recipes, Oyster Stuffing History.
Wikipedia, Oyster bar.
Oysters: A Culinary Celebration, by Joan Reardon, 2004, Guilford, Conn, Lyons Press.
Historic Columbus Taverns: The Capital City’s Most Storied Saloons by Tom Betti and Doreen Uhas Sauer, 2012, Charleston, SC, History Press

Oyster Dressing Recipe, Oyster Stuffing Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2)

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Grandma's Oyster Dressing Recipe:

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Grandma's Oyster Dressing Recipe

Author: What's Cooking America

Ingredients

  • 4tablespoonsbutter,divided
  • 1cuponion,chopped
  • 4green onions,chopped
  • 2stalkscelery,chopped
  • Pinchcayenne pepper
  • 3cupsCornbread,crumbled (either homemade or store bought)
  • 3cupsbread crumbs,small dice*
  • 1/2cup freshparsley,minced
  • Saltand freshly-ground pepper to taste
  • 2largeeggs,lightly beaten
  • 1pint fresh liveoystersshucked and drained (reserve 1/2 cup oyster liquid)**

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  2. Lightly butter a large rectangular baking pan.

  3. Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Saute onions and celery in the butter until tender; remove from heat an add a small pinch of cayenne and let cool.

  4. Combine cornbread and breadcrumbs in a large bowl. Gently fold in sauteed onions, salt, pepper, and parsley.

  5. Add beaten eggs and toss more; moisten with the reserved oyster liquid until moist but not soggy. Gently stir in the oysters.

  6. Pat the mixture into the prepared baking pan (it should make a 1-inch layer in the pan).

  7. Dot with remaining butter and bake about 45 minutes, until golden brown and set in the center.

Recipe Notes

* Check outMaking Homemade Bread Crumbs

**Lean How To Shuck Oysters

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Categories:

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Comments and Reviews

Oyster Dressing Recipe, Oyster Stuffing Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2024)

FAQs

Why put oysters in stuffing? ›

Why It Works. Oysters add a savory, briny flavor to the stuffing without making it overly seafood-y. Drying the bread allows it to absorb more flavorful moisture, like chicken stock and oyster liquor. Fennel and tarragon blend beautifully with the oysters.

How to tell when stuffing is done? ›

A food thermometer should be used to ensure that the stuffing reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. If the stuffing is inside whole poultry, take the poultry out of the oven and let it stand 20 minutes before removing the stuffing. Refrigerate cooked poultry and stuffing within 2 hours.

What is the most popular way to cook oysters? ›

Steaming is one of the simplest and quickest cooking methods for oysters, needing just a few minutes for them to cook through using this moist-heat technique. The gentle steam allows the briny oysters to cook while keeping their natural juices and flavors intact. All you need is a pot with a steamer basket.

What temperature does dressing need to be cooked to? ›

Cook until the center of the dressing reaches 165 degrees. When checked with a food thermometer. Never place frozen dressing or other frozen food in a slow cooker, it will not reach proper safe temperature fast enough.

What gives oysters their flavor? ›

Just like wine, oysters can vary greatly in flavor, as influenced by the waters they live in. For example, White Stone Oysters tend to have vegetal, sweet, and mushroom notes because of the relatively low salinity of the Chesapeake Bay. In contrast, oysters grown in New England tend to be very salty.

Do you soak oysters before cooking? ›

Before you're ready to eat, let your oysters sit in a small bowl of icy water for 10 or so minutes. You'll notice sand and other debris will fall to the bottom of the water. Remove the oysters and discard the water. With a hard bristled brush, scrub the outside of the oyster.

How do you make oysters taste good? ›

Offer ice-cold raw oysters plain, with lemon wedges or hot sauce, or with accompaniments such as Red Wine Vinegar Mignonette Granité and Lime-and-Soy-Marinated Scallions. Serve them on a frosty bed of crushed ice.

Are oysters good for you? ›

Let's cut to the chase — YES, oysters are good for you! In fact, oysters are often considered a superfood because of their incredible nutrition-to-calorie ratio. One 3-ounce serving of oysters (typically 2-3 raw oysters) has only 69 calories, 8 grams of protein, and only 2 grams of fat.

What season are oysters best? ›

Foodie tradition dictates only eating wild oysters in months with the letter “r” – from September to April – to avoid watery shellfish, or worse, a nasty bout of food poisoning. Now, a new study suggests people have been following this practice for at least 4,000 years.

How wet should stuffing be before baking? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

How to know if dressing is done? ›

Pour dressing into two 9×13 baking dishes and bake until lightly browned, about 30 – 45 minutes. To test doneness, shake casserole dish lightly. If the center of the dressing moves, then the dressing is not cooked through in the center.

Why put eggs in stuffing? ›

Broth: Chicken broth keeps the stuffing moist without making it soggy. Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency.

What is the importance of oyster sauce in cooking? ›

Oyster sauce adds a savory flavor to many meat and vegetable dishes. The sauce is a staple for much Chinese family-style cooking. It is commonly used in noodle stir-fries, such as chow mein. It is also found in popular Chinese-American dishes such as beef with stir-fried vegetables.

What does adding oyster sauce do? ›

Along with a jolt of flavor, oyster sauce adds a dark caramel color to any dish, which, according to assistant food editor Jessie YuChen, is referred to as “the sauce color” in Mandarin. It's a shade you'll notice in many Chinese dishes like stir-fried broccoli, Cantonese beef chow fun, and lo mein.

Why do they serve bread with oysters? ›

The butter provides creaminess, and the bread absorbs some of the salty brine and makes the dish more substantial than eating oysters alone or with crackers.

Why were oysters used to stuff turkeys? ›

Many early American cooks stuffed their turkeys and chicken with oysters since it was an inexpensive source of protein. Turkeys were very expensive and adding the oysters helped ensure there was enough protein to feed a large group.

References

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