Oyster recipe collection

This is an authentic family recipe that my mother taught me in 1950 in New Orleans. It makes a great dinner party main dish. Like chinese food, it is long on chopping and assembling, but goes together and cooks rather quickly.

Pork cubes marinated in five spice and sherry, wok-seared, then clay pot braised with brown bean sauce, dried orange peel, ginger, and fresh oysters. Cantonese surf-and-turf at its finest.

California-style bouillabaisse with lobster, snapper, halibut, shrimp, crab, clams, oysters, and mussels in saffron-fennel broth with white wine and tomato. Pacific coast classic.

Yucatan seafood stew loaded with clams, mussels, monkfish, tuna, cod, lobster, shrimp, oysters, and squid in a fire-roasted tomato and lime broth. The Mexican coastal showpiece for a special-occasion table.

Salsify is a long, thin, darkly earth-coloured root, can be found in greengrocers's shops in February, also available as preserved ; when scrubbed, it is revealed to be white whithout an obvious outer skin.

Old-school deviled oysters (or clams) baked in shells with a rich cream sauce, egg yolk, and crispy breadcrumb topping. Simple, elegant, and ready in 15 minutes.

Oyster loaves stuffed with butter-sauteed fresh oysters in hollowed-out French bread, wrapped in milk-soaked cheesecloth, and baked until golden and crisp.

Creole catfish Bayou Lafourche: pan-fried catfish fillets topped with poached oysters in a silky tarragon-champagne butter sauce. An elegant Louisiana seafood dish built on a classic beurre blanc finish.

Grand Central oyster stew cooked in a double boiler with fresh oysters, clam juice, Worcestershire, and half-and-half. A classic New York recipe where the oysters barely curl before serving.

Gumbo z'herbes, the New Orleans green gumbo: spinach, mustard, turnip, and collard greens simmered with smoked pork, ham, and oysters, spiced Creole-style and served over rice with file powder.

Very popular in Asian restaurants, can be used as a appetizer or main dish, both work very well.

Microwave scalloped oysters: a holiday-table classic shortcut with shucked oysters, breadcrumbs, celery, and a splash of cream baked together in a covered casserole. Ready in 20 minutes, no oven required.

Minced oysters baked with eggs, cracker crumbs, celery seed, and butter until golden brown. A classic Southern oyster casserole from a quart of fresh oysters.

Oyster and mushroom pie baked in a creamy half-and-half sauce thickened with the oyster liquor, finished with a buttery bread crumb topping. A New England-style crustless seafood pie ready in 40 minutes.

New Orleans-style oyster cream sauce with fresh oysters, oyster liquor, herbs, and a butter roux. Rich and briny, perfect over pasta, fish, or steaks.

New Orleans-style oyster souffle with minced and whole oysters, the Cajun holy trinity, and stiff egg white meringue. A classic Creole seafood souffle from masterchef tradition.