Food and Recipes Appetizers Broiled Oysters With Tasso Breadcrumbs Be the first to rate & review! The seafood lovers in your crowd will simply adore these bite-size broiled oysters on the appetizer table. By Emily Nabors Hall Emily Nabors Hall Emily Nabors Hall is a food stylist and recipe developer who has contributed regularly to Real Simple since 2015 as a member of the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios team. She works with several Dotdash Meredith brands, including Southern Living, Food & Wine, Rachel Ray In Season, and Meredith Premium Publishing titles. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband and two children. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 13, 2024 Recipe tested by Southern Living Test Kitchen Recipe tested by Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Learn more about the Southern Living Test Kitchen Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Active Time: 30 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 6 For Christmas or New Year's, broiled oysters are a terrific appetizer. Smooth, briny oysters are topped with a combination of sourdough crumbs, butter, pork, scallions, garlic, and beer for an explosion of flavor and texture that's sure to leave everyone wanting more. Broiled until golden brown, they're buttery, salty, savory, and incredibly delicious. Serve with lemon wedges and hot sauce to bring brightness and heat to this crowd-pleasing dish. These briny, broiled oysters are ready in just 30 minutes—which is ideal since you may need to make more than one tray of these finger foods. Ingredients for Broiled Oysters with Tasso Breadcrumbs To make these oysters, you'll need: Sourdough bread: Pulsed to create soft breadcrumbs. Unsalted butter: Binds the breadcrumb topping and adds a rich flavor. Chopped pork tasso: A salty, spicy cured meat popular in Cajun cuisine. If needed, substitute with traditional ham or sausage. Scallions: Adds a bright, oniony bite. Garlic: For depth of flavor. Kosher salt and black pepper: Seasons the breadcrumb topping. Lager beer: Adds moisture and flavor to the topping. Can substitute with other types of beer, or chicken or vegetable stock if needed. Rock salt: Large crystals of salt that help keep the oysters in their place while cooking. Oysters on the half shell: When buying oysters, make sure they smell fresh, and are refrigerated or stored on ice. Lemon wedges and hot sauce: For serving. How To Make Broiled Oysters with Tasso Breadcrumbs Serving fresh oysters was never so easy (or delicious). Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started: Step 1. Prepare oven: Preheat oven to broil with rack 6 inches from heat.Step 2. Make breadcrumbs: Pulse bread pieces in a food processor to pea-sized crumbs. Melt butter in a skillet and add breadcrumbs, pork tasso, white parts of scallions, garlic, kosher salt, and pepper; cook until browned. Add beer.Step 3. Prepare rock salt: Spread rock salt on 2 baking sheets.Step 4. Assemble oysters: Arrange oysters evenly on salt. Top each with breadcrumb mixture. Broil 1 pan at a time until golden.Step 5. Garnish, and serve: Sprinkle with scallions and serve with lemon wedges and hot sauce. How Long Can I Store Fresh Oysters? Fresh oysters should ideally be consumed within two days of buying them, although they can remain fresh for up to seven days in the refrigerator when stored well at the proper temperature. When storing, cover with a damp paper towel or cloth, allowing the oysters to breathe (avoid airtight containers for this reason). Check for any open shells before shucking. If you notice any cracks, give the oyster a tap. If the shell snaps shut, it's alive. If it remains open, discard it. What To Serve with Broiled Oysters with Tasso Breadcrumbs This satisfying appetizer makes the perfect starter for any celebration. Serve alongside any of these other favorite appetizer recipes and you're guaranteed to have everyone singing your praises. How To Store and Reheat Leftover Broiled Oysters These oysters are best served fresh after broiling. If you do have any leftovers, reheat in a preheated 400°F oven until hot throughout (an internal temperature of 165°F) before serving. More Oyster Recipes You'll Love If you love oysters like we do, you'll want to keep these recipes on hand: Scalloped Oysters Louisville Rolled Oysters Fried Oysters Simple Oyster Stew Baked Oysters with Bacon, Greens, and Parmesan Oven-Roasted Oysters with Mushrooms and Watercress Oyster Casserole Oysters Rockefeller Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse. Ingredients 4 to 5 thick slices day-old sourdough bread, crusts removed, bread torn into 1-in. pieces 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter 4 oz. finely chopped pork tasso (about 1 cup) 1 bunch scallions, white parts finely chopped (about 1/4 cup) and green parts reserved 1 Tbsp. chopped garlic (3 medium garlic cloves) 3/4 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper 1/4 cup lager beer (such as Miller Lite) 1 (4-lb.) pkg. rock salt 36 oysters on the half shell Lemon wedges and hot sauce, for serving Directions Prepare oven: Preheat oven to broil with rack 6 inches from heat. Make breadcrumbs: Place bread pieces in a food processor, and pulse until biggest pieces are pea-size, 10 to 15 pulses. (You will need 3 cups of breadcrumbs.) Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high. Add breadcrumbs, pork tasso, white parts of scallions, garlic, kosher salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until breadcrumbs begin to toast and tasso begins to brown, about 7 minutes. Add beer. Cook, stirring constantly, until beer has been absorbed by bread and mixture is moist but not wet, about 15 more seconds. Prepare rock salt: Spread rock salt evenly on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Assemble oysters: Arrange oysters evenly on salt. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of breadcrumb mixture onto each oyster. Broil 1 pan at a time in preheated oven until breadcrumb mixture is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Garnish, and serve: Thinly slice green parts of scallions; sprinkle over broiled oysters. Serve oysters hot with lemon wedges and hot sauce. Frequently Asked Questions What is a good substitute for pork tasso? Pork tasso is a specialty of Cajun cuisine that may be hard to find, depending on where you live. If needed, substitute with standard ham or sausage. What if I do not have rock salt? If you can't find rock salt, bake the oysters on a bed of kosher or coarse salt, or crinkled tin foil to help keep them in place. Are broiled oysters fully cooked? Yes—oysters cook quickly. By the time the topping is golden brown, the oysters will be fully cooked throughout. Rate It Print Additional reporting by Katie Rosenhouse Katie Rosenhouse Follow us Katie Rosenhouse is a pastry chef and food writer with over 15 years of experience in the culinary arts. She's worked as a pastry chef in some of the finest restaurants in New York City, as a culinary instructor, and as a recipe developer. learn more