Oyster Vinaigrette Sauce (Mignonette)

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Garnish your fresh oysters on the half shell with this classic oyster vinaigrette sauce that's chef's kiss! Oysters are always the star of the show, and pairing them with this tangy and refreshing oyster vinaigrette and they become a whole new level of irresistible. You'll need red wine vinegar, shallots, and parsley.

Table of Contents

Sauce for Oysters

A sauce for oysters is often referred to as mignonette, raw oyster sauce, or oyster vinaigrette. Either way, the sauce is made using a tasty vinegars, shallots, and few extra ingredients to enhance the flavor.

Oysters are the ultimate appetizer all year around, and especially for special occasions and holidays. Here, on the coast, we harvest our own starting in the spring. Though, best months to harvest oysters are the months that end in "er".

If we're not planning on firing up the BBQ, we're tossing the oysters in our air fryer to easily open them! It's my easy hack to opening oyster with zero fuss, so we can get right to enjoying them with this sauce!

INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED

Red wine vinegar. Being that this is a staple ingredient, make sure your red wine vinegar is fresh to make the best oyster vinaigrette recipe. Using red wine vinegar and sumac (talked about below) eliminates the need to use shallots, making this a great mignonette recipe without shallots - which can be hard to come by when going the traditional route.
Shallots. For the perfect classic sauce.
Fresh Parsley. For oyster garnish chop fresh flat-leaf parsley. Parsley is also a widely used herb in Mediterranean cuisine, especially on seafood, salads, and well just about any dish.
Salt and white pepper to taste.
Optional, you can add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a little kick. I tend to like oysters with a kick.

HOW TO MAKE OYSTER VINAIGRETTE

Making this oyster topping sauce is so incredibly easy. All you need to do is:

Finely chop the shallots and the flat-leaf parsley.
Into a small mixing bowl, add the red wine vinegar, shallots, and parsley.
Stir in the salt and white pepper. Taste and adjust salt.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

HOW TO STORE THIS SAUCE

Store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It's best the day of. The flavor becomes extremely potent after 24 hours.

At most, make a few hours prior to serving.

TOP TIPS FOR THIS RECIPE

Use fresh ingredients to make a good quality mignonette that's going to shine.
Serve chilled.
Make and use immediately. This sauce becomes too potent if made more than 12 hours in advance.

OTHER WAYS TO USE THIS MIGNONETTE

Use this vinaigrette sauce on other seafood. It makes a create dressing on:

baked salmon. Add a teaspoon of sugar to the vinaigrette and use it to add great flavor on a salmon fillet.
white fish. Drizzle to top cooked fish and garnish with tomatoes, red onion, and other desired veggies. Or use for this frozen fish fillet in air fryer recipe.
seafood salad. You will need to 4x the recipe and add a teaspoon or two of sugar if you're going to try a salad. This amount of vinegar, though absolutely great on oysters, doesn't work out too well on a salad without balancing it with some sweetness.

HOW TO PREPARE HALF SHELL OYSTERS

Shuck them using an oyster knife. If you're planning on enjoying oysters raw, then make sure you have an oyster shucking set in order to shuck them safely. You will need gloves, or a kitchen towel, and an oyster shucking knife. Simply shuck, and use this raw oyster topping to garnish!
Pop the oysters in the air fryer. Check out how to open oyster shells in the air fryer!
Or you have the option to bake them on a baking sheet in a high oven temperature until they pop open. As soon as they open, remove them and let them cool before handling. Pry off the top shell, leaving the bottom shell (the one that's a cup shape) and pour a teaspoon or so of this delectable Mediterranean-inspired oyster vinaigrette to garnish and serve.

FAQ

How far in advance can I make Oyster Vinaigrette?

It's best to prepare it a few hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Preparing it too early can cause it to become too potent.

What types of oysters work best with this mignonette?

Different oysters have varying flavor profiles. The mignonette works well with both briny and sweeter oysters, enhancing their natural taste.

Where to find fresh oysters?

Look to your local seafood market for fresh oysters, or turn to online distributors. Places like Taylor shellfish or other shellfish distributors can make it easy to order online and have oysters delivered to your home at a fraction of the cost of dining out.

What Drinks to Serve with Oysters on Half Shell

Pair this recipe with this Spicy Mango Margarita, a lemon drop martini, or a blueberry gin and tonic. For wine, go for a bubbly; champagne, brut, or prosecco that are always a perfect pairing with oysters. Cheers!

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Oyster Vinaigrette Mignonette Sauce

Garnish your fresh oysters on the half-shell with this classic oyster vinaigrette sauce that's chef's kiss! Red wine vinegar, shallots, and parsley. It's an irresistible match with cooked or raw oysters.