Garlicky, buttery, cheesy with a hint of herbs, these are bold flavors that complement the goodness of a Louisiana oyster cooked on open flame. My Grilled Oysters on the Half Shell are a culinary masterpiece, and it doesn’t get any simpler.
Charred along the edges and steamed to perfection, these oysters are perfect in every way. (Photo credit: George Graham)
Hands down, the invention of the char-grilled oyster on the half shell is a watershed moment in the evolution of Louisiana food culture. Drago’s Seafood owner Tommy Cvitanovich is universally credited with inventing the recipe over two decades ago out of necessity when a raw oyster-eating health scare threatened the industry. A classic was born. Now, this dish is imitated and duplicated in varying forms all over the nation, but the New Orleans-based eatery is still the best.
Up until now, cooking half-shell oysters meant buying a sack of oysters and hours shucking with an oyster knife. Lucky for us, the barrier to entry into the world of half-shell oysters just got easier. A new process that freezes oysters on the half shell is finding a wide audience that makes access to this delicacy convenient and cost-effective. It’s a method invented by the folks at Motivatit Seafoods based in Houma, LA. Watch our short, how-to video as Rox, Lo, and I show you how easy this recipe is, and meet Naomi Porche with Motivatit Seafoods to discover their extraordinary product.
Gold Band Frozen Half Shell Oysters were created using two state-of-the-art technologies. First, they undergo their high-pressure process, which shucks the oyster. Next, the oysters are cryogenically frozen. The result is a fully detached, perfectly presented frozen half shell oyster. Not only is this a labor-saving product for restaurants, but it is also now in demand with home cooks for backyard cookouts, hunting camps, and tailgating.
Gold Band flash-frozen oysters on the half-shell from Motivatit Seafoods are sorted on trays and boxed for shipping. (Photo credit: George Graham)
These frozen half-shell oysters are perfect for home cooks and wholesale buyers (restaurants and retailers) alike. They can be taken out of the freezer a dozen-at-a-time to throw on the grill at a moment’s notice. Grilled frozen, they thaw and cook quickly, preserving the oyster’s flavor and texture. That’s a game-changer.
Wilson’s Oysters in Houma, LA carries flash-frozen oysters on the half shell. (Photo credit: Internet archive)
Frozen half shell oysters can be bought from Motivatit Seafoods in Houma, Wilson’s Oysters also located in Houma, and from retailer Josh Boudreaux of Southern Seafood based on Hwy 90 between New Iberia and Broussard, LA. Be sure to connect with other coastal Louisiana fishermen by accessing the contact information on the Louisiana Direct Seafood website. It’s a free service, and it’s nice to know that you are helping to support the many fishing families that are the foundation of our Louisiana seafood industry.
One click on this website will open up a world of fresh seafood resources close to you.
Why flame-grilled? Think about it: Oysters are delicate creatures that are best eaten raw, but if cooked, it takes only a gentle touch to preserve the briny flavor and unmistakable texture of the bivalve. And flash-cooking over flame with the protective half-shell forming a barrier is nature’s work at its best. The butter sauce spills, the flames ignite, the smoke plumes, and the oyster cooks gently in just a few minutes. Another dozen, please!
Smoked and flames add flavor to these oysters. (Photo credit: George Graham)
This recipe is a cinch. Once you have your oysters, the sauce is the key. There are a variety of flavor directions to go in saucing your oysters, and I’ve tried them all. But I can say without wavering; butter is best. Butter infused with garlic, cheese, herbs, and spices, to be exact. Oysters cloaked in this rich sauce is missing only one thing—crusty French bread. So, fire up the grill and give this classic Grilled Oysters on the Half Shell recipe a try.
This Boat-To-Table series of stories, recipes, and information about our seafood industry is brought to you in support of Louisiana Direct Seafood, a free program of Louisiana Sea Grant and LSU Ag Center.
- 1 dozen oysters on the half shell
- 2 cups softened butter
- ½ cup minced garlic
- ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Acadiana Table Cajun Seasoning Blend, see recipe here
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ½ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- Preheat a gas grill (or charcoal grill) to high. The internal temperature should be 450ºF or higher.
- Line a large metal tray with parchment paper (keeps the oysters from sliding around) and place on the side of the grill.
- In a medium-size sauce pan, add all of the ingredients and stir together until thoroughly combined. Place the pan on a warm part of the grill so that the butter mixture will melt..
- Once the grill is hot, add the oysters in their half-shells to the grill’s hottest part. Using a long-handled spoon, add a heaping tablespoon of the butter mixture to each oyster. The amount of butter should be enough to spill over into the hot burners to create flames and smoke, essential for the char-grilled flavor. Top each oyster with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Using a spray bottle of water, spritz the flames down. As the steam rises, close the grill cover and let cook unopened for 1 minute. Open and check to see that the edges of the oysters are beginning to curl, the sign that the oysters are cooked but not overcooked.
- As they are ready, remove the oysters to the metal tray. (Note: The tray can be placed in a 150ºF oven to keep warm if you are cooking more oysters.) Serve the oysters with crusty French bread for sopping up the sauce.
Buttery, garlicky, and cheesy–Louisiana oysters on the half shell are delicious right off the grill. (Photo credit: George Graham)
YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE: If you like this Louisiana cooking story and recipe, then accept my invitation to subscribe by entering your email at the bottom or top right of this page. It’s quick and painless. You will receive an email alert and be the first to see when I add new Louisiana cooking stories and recipes. Thanks, George.
Will order as soon as I can figure out how to do it.
Hey Gil-
I urge you to contact one of the sources listed in the story; they can supply you with oysters. All the best.
Sounds good. I wish there were Apalachicola oysters left to use in your recipe. My grandfather was an oyster man in Apalachicola, FL.
First time eating grilled oysters! I Live in Grand isle, LA., and a dear friend of mine told me he was getting some oysters. I’m a cook, so he asked me if I could grill them, and of course, I said yes. I’m in the process of opening a restaurant, and I brought my grill there to accommodate him. He brought me the half-shell oysters, and I only use mesquite wood. I saw the Drago’s recipe, and I don’t know what I’m getting into, but as I followed the procedure, and I tasted this godsend…oh my goodness! I’m still in disbelief..amazing.
I love them. They are already shucked and ready for the grill. I grill a couple of dozen almost every weekend. I use crushed red pepper instead of the hot sauce.