Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Thom Driver
Southerners love their oysters baked into the classic Oyster casserole at Christmas time, served over ice with cold beer at a seaside dive, or roasted in an outdoor pit. Unlike a traditional Lowcountry oyster roast (which requires cooking them under a layer of wet burlap on a large metal slab, usually with help from several people), this simplified version is much easier to pull off. Be sure and scrub your oysters to remove sand and other debris. Dry them thoroughly. Use firewood or natural lump charcoal and place in the bottom of a grill, let it burn down until the coals are glowing orange and white and the heat reaches the required temperature. Place oysters, cupped side down on the grill grate and grill until oysters begin to open at the wide end. Throw away any oysters that do not open and use tongs to transfer the hot opened oysters to a platter.
How to Make It
Step 1
Place firewood and/or natural lump charcoal in base of grill, and ignite. Once fire has burned down and coals are glowing orange and white and have reached medium-high (400˚F to 450˚F), place 3 to 4 dozen oysters, cupped side down, on grill grate. Grill, covered, until oysters just begin to open at the wide end, 8 to 10 minutes. Discard any that do not open.
Step 2
Use tongs to carefully transfer hot oysters to a serving platter, retaining as much liquid as possible. Let stand until cool enough to handle with a towel, 10 minutes. Using an oyster or paring knife, pry open oysters, discard top shells, and place on the half shell on the platter. Serve immediately. Repeat with remaining oysters.
