Oyster Dressing Recipe, Oyster Stuffing Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2024)

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This is the dressing of oyster lover dreams! The oyster nectar makes the dressing so moist and flavorful. What’s not to love about a dressing that includes fresh oysters? Oyster Dressing can often be one of the best parts of a Thanksgiving dinner. This dressing must be served as a side dish and not as a turkey stuffing in the turkey.

This recipe was shared with me by Doc Lawrence and his Sips Across America columns. The recipe is by Chef Josh Butler, Executive Chef at the Florida Governor’s Mansion in Tallassee, FL.

Oyster Dressing Recipe, Oyster Stuffing Recipe, Whats Cooking America (1)Photo Credit: Matthew Mead, The Associated Press

LearnHow To Shuck Oysters.

Pleasecheck out my Thanksgiving Turkey dinner menu which includes Grandma’s Oyster Dressing.

History of Oyster Dressing:

Oyster dressing is a favorite of New Englanders that dates back to the 18th century in America as oysters were predominantly found along the eastern coast of North America. Oysters had been used with or without bread crumbs for stuffing poultry or fish over 335 years. The tradition of oyster dressing was brought over from British colonists that settled in America. In Britain, oysters were added to stuffing that was more traditionally used in fowl (chicken), fish, calves he ad, leg of mutton, hares (rabbit) and pigs.

Oysters used to be more plentiful and the most commonly eaten shellfish in America. They were cheap and plentiful enough for the working class to afford. Many early American cooks stuffed their turkeys and chicken with oysters since it was an inexpensive source of protein. Turkeys were very expensive and adding the oysters helped ensure there was enough protein to feed a large group. As the express wagons and railroads made it more possible to transport goods in the mid-19th century, the oyster market was able to expand and set off a national oyster addiction. Fresh, raw oysters were commonly served in taverns as oysters were a cheap food to serve with beer and liquor. By 1850, every major town in America had an Oyster saloon also known as oyster bars, oyster house or raw bar.

1685 – Earliest cookbook reference: The Accomplisht Cook, London, Sauce with Oysters and Bacon, The oysters were cooked and mixed with spices and herbs stuffed in the pullets belly and roasted.

1796 – American Cookery by Amelia Simmons, Meats – To smother a Fowl in Oysters: “Gill the bird with dry oysters, and sew up and boil in water just sufficient to cover the bird, salt and season to your taste – when done tender, put it into a deep dish and pour over it a pint of stewed oysters, well buttered and peppered, garnish a turkey with sprigs of parsley or leaves of celery: a fowl is best with a parsley sauce

1832 – The Cook’s Own Book: Being A Complete Culinary Encyclopedia, by A Boston Housekeeper. Chicken Stuffing recipe – “Fill your chickens with young oysters cut small, truffles, parsley and spices and roast them.”

1880 – Miss Parloa’s New Cook Book and Marketing Guide by Maria Parloa – Boiled Turkey – “Chop half a head of celery very fine. Mix with it one quart of bread crumbs, two scant table-spoonfuls of salt, half a teaspoonful of pepper, two heaping table-spoonfuls of butter and two eggs. Stuff the turkey with this; sew up and truss. The stuffing may be made the same as above, only substitute oysters for celery, and serve with oyster sauce.”

References:
The Washington Post, Food Section – A Short Course On the History of 8 Thanksgiving Foods, by Amanda Moniz, November 22, 2013
New England Recipes, Oyster Stuffing History.
Wikipedia, Oyster bar.
Oysters: A Culinary Celebration, by Joan Reardon, 2004, Guilford, Conn, Lyons Press.
Historic Columbus Taverns: The Capital City’s Most Storied Saloons by Tom Betti and Doreen Uhas Sauer, 2012, Charleston, SC, History Press

Oyster Dressing Recipe, Oyster Stuffing Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2)

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Grandma's Oyster Dressing Recipe:

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Total Time

1 hr 5 mins

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Grandma's Oyster Dressing Recipe

Author: What's Cooking America

Ingredients

  • 4tablespoonsbutter,divided
  • 1cuponion,chopped
  • 4green onions,chopped
  • 2stalkscelery,chopped
  • Pinchcayenne pepper
  • 3cupsCornbread,crumbled (either homemade or store bought)
  • 3cupsbread crumbs,small dice*
  • 1/2cup freshparsley,minced
  • Saltand freshly-ground pepper to taste
  • 2largeeggs,lightly beaten
  • 1pint fresh liveoystersshucked and drained (reserve 1/2 cup oyster liquid)**

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  2. Lightly butter a large rectangular baking pan.

  3. Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Saute onions and celery in the butter until tender; remove from heat an add a small pinch of cayenne and let cool.

  4. Combine cornbread and breadcrumbs in a large bowl. Gently fold in sauteed onions, salt, pepper, and parsley.

  5. Add beaten eggs and toss more; moisten with the reserved oyster liquid until moist but not soggy. Gently stir in the oysters.

  6. Pat the mixture into the prepared baking pan (it should make a 1-inch layer in the pan).

  7. Dot with remaining butter and bake about 45 minutes, until golden brown and set in the center.

Recipe Notes

* Check outMaking Homemade Bread Crumbs

**Lean How To Shuck Oysters

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Categories:

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Comments and Reviews

Oyster Dressing Recipe, Oyster Stuffing Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2024)

FAQs

Where did oyster stuffing originate? ›

The history of Oyster Dressing dates back over 300 years ago. This savory side dish was brought to America by the British colonists. At the time, oysters were quite plentiful and could be easily gathered along the shoreline. This Thanksgiving side is still quite popular.

What is the best way to cook oyster? ›

Steaming Oysters: A Simple Approach

The gentle steam allows the briny oysters to cook while keeping their natural juices and flavors intact. All you need is a pot with a steamer basket. Place the shucked oysters in the basket, set over boiling water, and cover to steam for 4-5 minutes until they are firm and opaque.

What's the difference between stuffing and dressing? ›

"Stuffing is cooked in the cavity of the turkey, so the juices soak into the ingredients, making it more flavorful. Dressing gets cooked on its own and needs extra liquid to make it flavorful." So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish.

What temperature should dressing be cooked to? ›

Cook until the center of the dressing reaches 165 degrees. When checked with a food thermometer. Never place frozen dressing or other frozen food in a slow cooker, it will not reach proper safe temperature fast enough.

What is stuffing called in America? ›

In the context of Thanksgiving, the word dressing is commonly used to mean the same exact thing as stuffing—including when it's cooked inside the bird.

Why do people put oysters in stuffing? ›

Why It Works. Oysters add a savory, briny flavor to the stuffing without making it overly seafood-y. Drying the bread allows it to absorb more flavorful moisture, like chicken stock and oyster liquor. Fennel and tarragon blend beautifully with the oysters.

Can dogs eat oysters? ›

Yes, you can feed oysters to your dog. Like many types of seafood, oysters are an excellent source of protein and can offer many health benefits to your pet. Only serve cooked oysters to your dog (this includes canned oysters).

Are oysters good for you? ›

Oysters are highly nutritious shellfish that offer a wide array of health benefits. They're packed with high quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants — all of which benefit health. Still, raw oysters can contain potentially harmful bacteria. To avoid getting sick, enjoy oysters cooked instead.

Why do you soak oysters in milk? ›

Once shucked, rinse the oysters under cold water to ensure they are clean. You can also soak them in milk or buttermilk for about 30 minutes to help reduce their brininess and add some extra flavor.

Why do Americans call stuffing dressing? ›

The term dressing, per the History Channel, originated around the 1850s, when the Victorians deemed stuffing too crude for the dish to be named. This happened around the same time that the term “dark meat” began to refer to chicken legs and thighs.

What do Southerners call stuffing? ›

But for the Thanksgiving side dish in the South, the term dressing was adopted in place of stuffing, which was viewed as a crude term, during the Victorian era. Although dressing and stuffing are interchangeable terms, the signature ingredient of this Thanksgiving side dish in the South is cornbread.

What kind of bread is good for stuffing? ›

You can use almost any type of bread when you are making bread cubes for stuffing! Old French bread loaves, buns that weren't eaten, a few slices of bread from a homemade or store-bought loaf all work in this recipe. What is this? I believe stuffing, not turkey, is the crown jewel of an amazing Thanksgiving feast!

Can I cook stuffing at 325 instead of 350? ›

How do you safely cook stuffing? The stuffed meat, poultry, or stuffing in a casserole should be placed immediately after preparation in an oven set no lower than 325 °F.

How do you know when stuffing is done cooking? ›

Fully cook raw meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients before adding to stuffing. Combine the ingredients and place them in your bird immediately before cooking. Don't stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing. In addition to the turkey, the stuffing's center needs to reach 165 F.

How wet should stuffing be before baking? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

What culture invented stuffing? ›

Purportedly ancient Roman, or else Medieval, cooks developed engastration recipes, stuffing animals with other animals. An anonymous Andalusian cookbook from the 13th century includes a recipe for a ram stuffed with small birds.

What country is oyster stew from? ›

Oyster stew came to this country with Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine. Catholic tradition banned meat on Christmas Eve so many Irish families ate a soup or stew of fish. Oysters were substituted for fish and it became a traditional Christmas dish for many, whether Irish or not.

Why were oysters used to stuff turkeys? ›

The British brought the tradition of oyster stuffing to the colonies. In 1685, a British cookbook mentioned stuffing poultry or fish with oysters. Since oysters were plentiful (and extremely cheap) in the New World, they were used by the poor or laborers to stretch their meager meat rations.

When were oysters first canned? ›

Canning is said to have been introduced into the United States by Ezra Daggett and Thomas Kensett in 1819 when t~ey packed oysters and other seafoods in New York (Cobb, 1919). William Underwood is credited with establishing a plant in Boston in 1820, packing lobster and fruit in glass.

References

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