Oyster and shrimp pasta... I'll post up a recipe in a bit...
Oyster Pasta
Shuck a quart of oysters (about 20-25 oysters)... save the liqueur (oyster juice) and add to cheese/butter sauce pan at about 0:20 minutes. Start times are given in minutes (This is important).
Start Time 0:00
2 quart saucepan on LOW (1/10 or 2/10):
- 1/2 stick of butter (or... I used bacon grease today)
- 2 packs of neufchatel or cream cheese (each is 8 oz.)
DO NOT RUSH/PUSH or it will stick or burn... expect 40 minutes to become a sauce/liquid.
-Season sauce with cayenne, black pepper, whatever you like... personally I use 1/8 to 1/4 cup of garlic... 1/8 cup of Texas Peter or Tabasco (you are not looking for heat, just flavor).
(NO OLD BAY seasoning or Habanero/Ghost)... oyster/pasta/cheese recipe it is a delicate flavor. Too much heat will overpower everything. Old Bay overpowers everything. I never use with oysters.)
Time - 0:20
Start 2-3 gallons of water (salt and olive oil added) at the 20 minute mark on the sauce.
Add oyster liqueur to cheese sauce that is still cooking.
Chip/chunk nuggets of Smithfield ham (4 oz to 1 lbs (your call... a little or a lot)).
Open and drain a can of Le Sueur Early Peas. Kernel corn works also... OR baked/roasted green beans... asparagus etc. (I used 2/3 of a pound of spinach today)
You get the idea... freelance
Time 0:35.
- With water boiling, cook 1.5 pounds of Angel hair pasta.
- Turn up heat on butter/cream cheese/oyster liqueur to 4/10 or 5/10 and stir some. Add liqueur (oyster juice) if you have previously forgotten to done so.
Time 0:38
Sauce is a smooth even liquid add the quart of oysters and dial back to LOW 2/10.
(DO NOT let oysters sauce/cheese cook more than 2-3 minutes... NEVER overcook an oyster).
Drain pasta and put in a large mixing bowl (12-15 liter) while HOT...
Pour the sauce into the pasta and stir completely for 1+ minute.
- Plate pasta... then add peas/ham/corn etc. after.
SERVES 6-10 PEOPLE...
Tupperware leftover in 1/2 quarts (i.e Pints). Eats cold the next day very well. Freezes great also.
Mussels, smoked fish, shrimp, scallops, or any type of chunked seafood works well also.