Easy Oyster Stew
For many, when hearing the word oyster, they think about extremely difficult and fancy dishes that only restaurant chefs can accomplish. But in reality, there is nothing simpler than an oyster stew. There's nothing to chop, there's no sauteeing of vegetables, no extreme preparation. Simply place all the ingredients in a large pot, cook until hot, and serve with oyster crackers. This simple one-pot meal is actually a soup, but it's been called a stew for decades. The main difference between the two is that soups have a higher liquid quantity, even if there are other solid ingredients, whereas stews are thick and hearty and could be picked up with a fork, even if they have some liquid in them.
Oysters are high in many essential nutrients and minerals like zinc, iron, and magnesium, very low in calories, and still comparatively high in protein compared to other animal meats1. A 3-ounce serving of oysters has 69 calories, 2 grams of fat, and 8 grams of protein, compared to the 210 calories, 16 grams of fat, and 14 grams of protein that the same serving size of ground beef provides2. Oysters are available in the refrigerator section of the seafood department; you can find them in 10-ounce or 32-ounce jars. While not fresh from the sea, these oysters are a good option, and a time-saving one, too. If you choose to use fresh oysters and shuck them, buy between 48 and 60 oysters.
Ingredients:
- 32 ounces jarred or canned oysters (with juice)
- 5 cups half-and-half
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups oyster crackers
- Garnish: Paprika
- Optional: Hot sauce