Grilled Oysters Recipe

1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil, crinkling it up to create deep creases. Shuck oysters, discard top shells, and place them on foil-lined baking sheet, using foil to keep them upright so that juices do not spill out.

2. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange coals on one side of charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Alternatively, set half the burners on a gas grill to the highest heat setting, cover, and preheat for 10 minutes. Clean and oil grilling grate.

3. Place oysters directly over hot side of grill. Using 2 spoons, place 2 teaspoons (10ml) of compound butter inside each. Cover and cook until butter is melted and liquid is bubbling, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter lined with seaweed or moistened kosher salt (to keep oysters level; see note) and serve immediately.

Special equipment

Rimmed baking sheet, grill, oyster knife

Notes

Most fishmongers carry seaweed behind the counter. Ask for it when purchasing your oysters. Lining your serving plate with seaweed will allow you to keep the oysters stable. If using kosher salt instead, put a cup of kosher salt in a bowl and moisten with water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it has the consistency of wet sand. Place small mounds of moistened salt on your serving platter and nestle an oyster into each mound to hold them stable.