These easy baked oysters are flavored with a buttery herb crumb topping. A little lemon juice adds zing to the oysters, and panko breadcrumbs make the topping extra crunchy. They're perfect for a summertime party or a New Year's bash.

• Total:32 mins
• Prep:20 mins
• Cook:12 mins
• Servings:4 servings
• Yields:12 oysters

Ingredients

• Rock salt
• 1 dozen fresh oysters (in the shell)
• 1 stick butter (8 tablespoons, softened, divided)
• 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons fresh chives (finely chopped)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest (finely grated)
• Optional: sweet paprika
• Garnish: fresh parsley (chopped), 2 to 3 wedges lemon (for serving)

 

Steps to Make It

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Preheat the oven to 425 F/220 C/Gas Mark 7. Add a layer of rock salt to a rimmed baking sheet or substitute dry, uncooked rice. This will keep the oyster shells from wobbling.
3. Scrub the oyster shells with a stiff brush.
4. Carefully shuck the oysters over a bowl to catch any liquids that might spill out. Run the knife along the bottom of the inside of the shell to loosen the oyster. If some of the oyster liquor does spill out, return it to the bottom shell. Discard the top shells and arrange the oysters with their liquid in the prepared baking pan.
5. In a skillet over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter. Add the panko crumbs and cook, stirring, until the crumbs are lightly browned.
6. In a bowl, combine the remaining 4 tablespoons of softened butter with the chives, lemon juice, and the lemon zest.
7. Top each oyster with a scant teaspoon of the butter-and-chives mixture and then sprinkle each one with the buttered panko crumbs.
8. If desired, finish with a light sprinkling of paprika.
9. Bake the oysters in the preheated oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until the oysters are cooked through and the topping is golden brown.
10. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

 

 

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	422
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g	36%
Saturated Fat 15g	77%
Cholesterol 136mg	45%
Sodium 312mg	14%
Total Carbohydrate 27g	10%
Dietary Fiber 3g	9%
Protein 18g
Calcium 73mg	6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.