Oyster Stew

Oyster Stew with salt pork
Traditional Oyster Stew
Waterman's Stew Prepared on the boat

Oyster Stew with salt pork

1. Serves six
   2 small slices salt pork
   1 small onion, finely chopped
   1 quart water
   1 quart oysters (reserve the liquor)
   salt and pepper to taste
   1/4 teaspoon seafood seasoning
   pinch of thyme
   1 teaspoon lemon juice
   
   In heavy saucepan, render salt pork, then lightly brown chopped onion until golden. Remove salt pork, add water, oyster liquor, seasonings, thyme, and lemon juice. Bring to boil, then add oysters. When mixture returns to a boil, remove from heat.

Traditional Oyster Stew - A mainstay on the Chesapeake Bay

1. Ingredients:
   1 Quart milk
   2 pints stewing oysters
   2 tablespoons butter
   1 teaspoon salt
   1/4 teaspoon pepper
   In a large sauce pan heat milk to boiling. In a seperate pan melt the butter and brown it. Drain the oysters and add to the browned butter. Cook oysters for 3 minutes and add salt and pepper. Add oysters with butter and seasonings to the milk and serve.

2. Ingredients:
   1 pint oysters, shucked with juice
   1 quart milk
   1/4 stick butter
   1/2 teaspoon seafood seasoning
   salt and pepper to taste
   In a medium sauce pan cook the oysters in their own juice until the edges just begin to curl. The add milk, butter, seafood seasoning and salt and pepper to taste. heat slowly over medium heat.

Waterman's Stew Prepared on the boat

1. Ingredients
   2 slices of bacon for each crew member
   shuck 12-15 oysters for each crew member
   diced onion
   salt
   pepper
   celery seed
   potato (optional) diced to 1/2" cubes
   Preparation
   Shuck oyster from cull board into pan, dice onion, cover bacon with water and simmer - if using potato add at this time
   When bacon begins to curl add salt, pepper, celery seed, and onion, add water if needed
   Simmer a few more minutes, pour in oysters from pan (liguid and all)
   If needed add water. Should be slighty more liguid than oysters.
   When oysters have curled and stew is hot call crew members in cabin, its time to eat. Serve with saltines.