• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
West Coast Kitchen Garden
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
      • Albacore Tuna Ceviche With A Side Of Guacamole
      • Arugula Crostini With Boerenkaas Cheese
      • Asparagus and Red Pepper Prosciutto Bundles
      • Basil Anchovy Aioli For Garden Veggies
      • Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese Dip
      • Crab Cakes (The best classic cakes!)
      • Dungeness Crab Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce (Low Carb and Gluten Free)
      • Crispy Fried Oysters With Lemon Caper Aioli
      • Fresh Salsa (Pica de Gallo)
      • Grilled Peel And Eat Spot Prawns With Garlic Herb Butter
      • Guacamole (Fast, Vegan, 5 Ingredients)
      • Healthy Hummus
      • Miso Baked Oysters-A Quick And Easy West Coast Appetizer
      • Olives-Warm Marinated Olives
      • Roasted Eggplant Dip (Skinny Dipping)
      • Savory Spring Rhubarb Salsa
      • Shrimp Cocktail Mexican Style! (Coctel De Camarones) With Wild West Coast Shrimp
      • Skinny Dipping (Into Eggplant)
      • Use-It-Up Fruit Salsa
      • Zucchini Cheddar Fritters
      • Canada Day!!! 8 Fun Recipes To Celebrate Our Country
    • Salads and Side Dishes
      • Apple Fennel Salad with Grainy Mustard Dressing
      • Carrot Apple Ginger Salad Dressing
      • Cauliflower Mushrooms And Wild Mushroom Gratin
      • Celery Apple Salad
      • Fresh Fig Fennel Salad
      • Garden Salad With Orange Vinaigrette
      • Ketchup-Make Your Own (Easy and Healthy) Homemade Ketchup From Your Garden!
      • Microgreen Salad on Carrot Risotto
      • Radicchio and Orange Salad
      • Radicchio Grilled with Cambazola
      • Raspberry Salad Dressing
      • Strawberry Vinaigrette with Arugula, Hazelnuts and Goat Cheese
      • Thai Flank Steak Salad
      • Zucchini Salad with Feta and Hazelnuts
      • Zucchini Tomato Salad
    • Main
      • Chirashi Sushi Bowl (aka Superfood Bowl)
      • Crab Cake Recipe-Pure Crab!
      • Crispy Fried Oysters With Lemon Caper Aioli
      • Fish Tacos With BC Cod
      • Foraged Food! How to find and cook wild foods.
      • Halibut Cheeks
      • Lemon Herb Marinade For Chicken
      • Peanut Sauce Baked Chicken
      • Perfectly Baked Salmon
      • Salmon-Roasted Miso Glazed Salmon
      • Scallops Vongole Style
      • Seafood Alfredo
      • Seared Tuna Nicoise Salad with Asparagus and Arugula
      • Thai Flank Steak Salad
      • Wild West Coast Prawns In Tomato Fennel Broth And How to Grill Them Simply
    • Vegetarian Main
      • Basic Pizza Dough and Easy Zucchini Pizza
      • Best Meatless Monday Recipes- 35 Dinners That Aren’t Salad!
      • Easy Lemon Asparagus Risotto
      • Fiddleheads-A Wild Spring Vegetable and a Delicious, Easy Tart
      • Pesto-Mint Basil Pistachio Pesto (Vegan, GF)
      • Pesto- Sorrel Pesto, Bright, Citrusy, Delicious And Easy
      • Mushroom Gratin-Cauliflower and other Wild Mushrooms
      • Mushrooms-Wild Chanterelle Mushroom Croustade
      • Mushroom-Wild Mushroom and Lentil Stew
      • PNW Fiddleheads with Garlic, Ginger and Sesame
      • Risotto-Carrot and Microgreen Salad
      • Risotto-Best Ever Wild Mushroom Risotto
      • Vegan Italian White Beans
    • Soup
      • Beet And Beef Borscht Inspired By Grandma
      • Broccoli Cheese Soup (GF, Healthy, Easy)
      • Easiest Creamy Tomato Soup
      • Laksa-Easy Authentic Homemade Snapper Laksa
      • Oyster Stew-West Coast Oysters, East Coast Stew!
      • Potage Parmentier (Potato Leek Soup)
      • Roasted Cauliflower Soup With Hazelnuts
      • Roasted Sweet Pepper Soup
      • West Coast Wild Mushroom Soup
    • Herbs and Recipes to use them
      • Herbes De Provence
      • Lavender-20 Recipes To Use and Preserve Lavender
      • Mint Basil Pistachio Pesto (Vegan, GF)
      • Mint-25+ Best Fresh Mint Recipes
      • Parsley-20 Best Parsley Recipes
    • Drink, Sauce, Syrup, Etc
      • 3 Ways To Preserve (And Use) Your Lavender
      • Blackberry Barbecue Sauce
      • Classic Canadian Caesar Cocktail
      • Fresh Squeezed Lime Margarita
      • Kate’s Fresh Peppermint Tea
      • Lavender French 75
      • Lavender Simple Syrup
    • Baked, Preserved and Condiments
      • 3 Ways To Preserve (And Use) Your Lavender
      • Apple Brown Sugar Cake With Cardamom
      • Apple Oatmeal Cake-Best Ever Easy Cake Recipe
      • Blackberry Yogurt Popsicles
      • Blackberry Apple Jam-Makes 1 jar, no canning required!
      • (One Bowl!) Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
      • Chocolate Almond Brownies
      • Chocolate Hazelnut Tart
      • Christmas Collection-Easy Festive Drinks To Keep Your Holiday Merry And Bright
      • French Apple Beignets- And Easy Apple Fritter
      • Ketchup-Make Your Own Easy and Healthy Sauce From Your Garden!
      • No Knead Bread-A Fast And Easy Rosemary Boule
      • Plum Clafoutis Recipe- Classic French Dessert That’s Fast and Easy
      • Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins with oatmeal and Greek yogurt
      • The Raspberriest Raspberry Sauce with Quick Chocolate Cake for 8
      • Rhubarb Snack Cake with Yogurt and Olive Oil
      • Ultimate Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake
      • Zucchini Muffins
      • Easy Healthy Recipes From The West Coast
  • Shop
  • About
    • About
    • Portfolio
    • Contact and Media

Oyster Stew-West Coast Oysters, East Coast Stew!

December 13, 2018 by SabCurrie 10 Comments

Oyster stew is a traditional dish on the East Coast of North America. It’s popular to have on Christmas Eve but also other times of year too.  I think it’s a great traditional recipe that we should adopt here on the West Coast because we have an abundance of these fresh and delicious bivalves too.  Oyster stew is rich, silky, luxurious and full of briny umami flavour. It’s simple and easy with only a few ingredients and if you like oysters, I highly recommend you give this a try!

Classic Oyster Stew Perfect For Christmas Eve
Classic Oyster Stew Perfect For Christmas Eve

The traditional oyster stew recipe was brought to the East Coast by Irish immigrants who adapted their traditional Ling (Fish) Soup recipe using the oysters that were growing in abundance on the beaches of their new home.

Local Vancouver Island Oysters-West Coast Oceanwise Seafood
Local Vancouver Island Oysters-West Coast Oceanwise Seafood

I used fresh and local Fanny Bay oysters for this but there are many other delicious local varieties grown all around here and oysters are at their briny, tasty best in the winter.  If you don’t love cooked oysters then pick up some fresh in the shell from Stellar Bay Oysters or Cortes Island Oysters and enjoy them raw this season.  (For more local oyster info, check out the BC Oyster Guide here).

Stellar Bay Kusshi Oysters Vancouver Island
Stellar Bay Kusshi Oysters Vancouver Island

Back to our recipe, this stew is more like a soup in texture though you can certainly adjust the thickness to your preference.  This is deceptively simple, the ingredients are few and basic yet resulting in an impressive dish worthy of company which makes it perfect for a relaxing holiday meal whether cooking for 2 or for a crowd.  Oysters are the star and they are enhanced by milk and cream, a little sherry or white wine, some fresh parsley and aromatics, spice to taste and cooked just until the oysters edges curl indicating perfection, this is done start to finish easily in 30 minutes or less.

Sustainable Seafood-Pacific Oysters In An Oyster Soup
Sustainable Seafood-Pacific Oysters In An Oyster Soup

Some people like to add bacon, potato or even other creative additions but it is generally agreed that as soon as you add these ingredients you’ve crossed the line from oyster stew to chowder.  I’ve decided to keep this simple because I believe in this case simple is truly the best.  A little acidity from the sherry or wine and some fresh bright green flavour from the parsley are as far as I’ve ventured from tradition here though I think it would be acceptable to make it more or less thick according to your taste.

Creamy Classic Oyster Stew
Creamy Classic Oyster Stew

Serve this rich and creamy stew with some crusty bread, traditional oyster crackers or easier to find but very similar saltine crackers. If you’re serving this at Christmas or New Years, this would be delicious served with a bottle of BC sparkling wine like the fabulous Unsworth Charme De L’Ile , Zanatta Fantasia or a bright white wine with some depth and acidity like a chardonnay, pinot grigio or chenin blanc.

Charme de L'Isle Unsworth Sparkling Wine
Charme de L’Isle Unsworth Sparkling Wine

ox Sabrina

PS. Don’t you love the oyster pottery in the pictures???  It is from local potters at Mussels and More Pottery and the bowl in the center is from Pottery For Peace  (she donates partial proceeds from all sales to various charities), both are located in Campbell River

And if you want to feature more BC Seafood at your holiday table this year, check out the recipe archives for many more delish recipes made with local and sustainable seafood like my Low Carb Crab Cakes or the recent Mexican Style Shrimp Cocktail.  

Vancouver Island Oysters In West Coast Oyster Stew

West Coast Oyster Stew

A delicious, easy and luxurious dish, traditional on the East Coast on Christmas Eve.  Done in under 30 minutes and with less than 10 ingredients, if you love oysters, you've got to try this!
*It is imperative that you do not let the soup boil.  Keep the temperature low and remove from heat as soon as the oysters curl at the edges. 
*This recipe will double easily to feed more people. 
0 from 0 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Christmas, Holiday, Main, Seafood, Soup
Cuisine: East Coast, North American, PNW
Keyword: Chowder, Oyster Stew, Oysters, Soup, Stew, Traditional
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Sabrina Currie

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp Butter
  • 1/4 c Leek, White Part Only, Diced 1/4"
  • 1/4 c Celery, Diced 1/4"
  • 1 Thyme Sprig
  • 1/4 c Dry Sherry or White Wine
  • 4 tbsp Flour
  • 2 c Whole Milk
  • 1 c Heavy Cream (10% Or Heavier)
  • 1/8-1/4 tsp Tobasco Or Other Hot Sauce
  • Salt And Pepper To Taste
  • 1 Pint Shucked Oysters, Liquor Reserved Cut In Pieces If Very Large
  • Parsley And/Or Paprika For Garnish

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, heat butter on medium-low and gently saute leeks and celery until translucent but not brown.  
    Leeks and butter
  • Add thyme and saute 1 more minute, then add sherry or wine and reduce by half. 
    Celery and thyme for oyster soup
  • Reduce heat to low and add in flour, stir until incorporated and cook for another minute. 
    Roux to thicken seafood stew
  • Whisk in milk and cream increase heat to medium-low, stirring frequently to prevent lumps or burning and cooking until thickened.  If you have reserved oyster liquor, strain it into the pot at this point.  Do not let milk mixture boil, turn temperature down if needed to keep stew just under a simmer.
    Strain oyster liquor into soup
  • Remove thyme sprig and puree mixture.  Season to taste with salt (I used 3/4 tsp), pepper and hot sauce.  (I had 1/4 cup oyster liquor which was added in step 4 and is salty.  If you don't have any you may need more salt) 
    Puree soup for smooth texture
  • Add in oysters, stir gently and watch closely.  As soon as the edges curl, remove from the heat, serve in bowls garnished with chopped parsley and dust with paprika if desired.  
    Smooth velvety oyster stew
  • Serve with crusty bread, oyster crackers or saltines.
    Traditional Oyster Stew
Fanny Bay Oyster Stew
Fanny Bay Oyster Stew

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Photography, Recipe, Vancouver Island Tagged With: British Columbia, Canadian, Chowder, Christmas Eve, coastal cooking, cooking, easy, easy recipe, Fanny Bay, fast, Oyster, Oysters, pnw, quick recipe, recipe, seasonal, slow food, soup, Stew, Traditional Christmas, West Coast, West Coast Food, West Coast Kitchen Garden, West Coast Seafood

Previous Post: « Albacore Tuna Ceviche With A Side Of Guacamole
Next Post: Easy Festive Drinks To Keep Your Holiday Merry And Bright »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yvonne Langen

    December 17, 2018 at 7:42 pm

    5 stars
    Such a great Canadian dish – love this recipe!

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      December 17, 2018 at 10:53 pm

      Thanks Yvonne! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do and I hope you have a great holiday season. Cheers!

      Reply
  2. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking

    December 19, 2018 at 2:29 am

    5 stars
    I probably shouldn’t say this but I’ve never had an oyster! This stew looks delicious though, so I think it’s about time I gave them a try! And what a great idea for Christmas Eve dinner!

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      December 20, 2018 at 2:08 pm

      You should! If you’re a first timer, I’d recommend small oysters as they will have a little former texture. I hope you like them! 🐚 🥂

      Reply
  3. Denise from Urbnspice

    December 19, 2018 at 9:59 pm

    5 stars
    Your recipe for Oyster Stew is pure elegance, Sabrina. It looks so delicious. And yes! That oyster pottery is amazing! What a way to showcase such a beautiful meal. Thanks so much for sharing. Enjoy the holiday season.

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      December 20, 2018 at 2:07 pm

      Thank you Denise and your welcome! Have a lovely holiday 🥂🤗

      Reply
  4. Elaine

    December 20, 2018 at 12:49 pm

    5 stars
    We obviously share a love for at least a couple of things–seafood and Unsworth’s Charme de L’ile! One of my local favourites! Pinning. Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      December 20, 2018 at 2:06 pm

      Both so good! Happy holidays Elaine 🎄🥂

      Reply
  5. Chef Heidi

    December 23, 2018 at 10:40 am

    This looks so so good! I’ve always had tourtiere on Christmas Eve, but I’m feeling this for New Year’s Eve. We have some amazing oysters on the West Coast – can’t wait to try this recipe.

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      December 23, 2018 at 10:42 am

      Oooh tourtiere! I’ve never made it myself but it’s sooo tasty and perfect for the holidays. I hope you enjoy the oyster stew, it’s so simple yet luxurious 💕

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Join Us On Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Shop West Coast Kitchen Garden

West Coast Kitchen Garden Homewares Shop

West Coast Kitchen Garden Homewares Shop

West Coast Kitchen Garden on Facebook

West Coast Kitchen Garden on Facebook
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2021 West Coast Kitchen Garden on the Foodie Pro Theme