They are an acquired taste but if you’re a fan of oysters stay with me. Then again, this recipe is so good that it could even turn an oyster-phobic around. It’s because they are slathered in miso mayonnaise.
Miso paste is available in most supermarkets and if you can’t find it there you could head to your nearest Asian store. Miso paste is made with fermented soya beans. It’s salty, delicious, and a staple ingredient in Japanese cooking. The texture is a bit like peanut butter and miso can be smooth or chunky. The fermentation process can take from a few weeks to several years.
Mixing mayonnaise and miso and using it as a glaze for grilled seafood is an old Japanese trick called Motoyaki. The rich flavours of the ingredients compliment the sweetness of the baked oyster.
Japanese Miso Baked Oysters – Serves 4 as an appetiser
- 8-12 Oysters, shucked, shells reserved if using to bake oysters in ¾ cup Japanese (Kewpie) or regular mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Miso paste
- 1 tbsp Mirin
- 5 dashes of Tabasco or other hot sauce
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 ½ cup shredded fresh spinach
- ½ cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
- Some wedges of lemon and a sprinkling of parsley and/or paprika for garnish
Step 1:
Pre-soak your Cedar Wood plank, scrubbed the oysters and rinse them well to remove excess grit and potential bugs from the shell, and preheat the barbeque to high.
Step 2:
Set out oyster shells, help them stay upright and stable by placing them on a bed of rock salt.
Step 3:
Mix the mayonnaise into miso paste, then add mirin, hot sauce and lemon juice and stir until well mixed. If you are using regular mayo instead of the Japanese one, add a bit more lemon juice.
Step 4:
Divide the shredded spinach equally between the shells and top it with the oysters. If you are using large oysters, you can cut them into 2-4 pieces each so they are easier to eat. Spoon approximately 1 tbsp miso mayo sauce over each one and then sprinkle with cheese.
Step 5:
Place the pre-soaked plank with the oysters on it on the hot grill. When bubbling there’s a beautiful caramel colour on top, your oysters are cooked. It’ll take approximately 5-8 minutes.
These delicious cedar plank grilled oysters are perfect for pairing with beer and sake. Enjoy, andとんでもない, Tondemonai, you’re welcome.
