Oyster Chowder - A Holiday Tradition or Anytime

Hello Friends! It's Grandma Dorothy.  Today's favorite is Oyster Chowder. The complete recipe is listed at the bottom.

 This recipe came from a New Year's Party in 1974. We were invited to attend by best friends and enjoyed this rich, flavorful, and filling oyster chowder. Our hostess was kind enough to share the recipe and it has been a recipe we make several times a year for special occasions, mainly Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The pictures I've included are approximately a double recipe. Today we are celebrating a good friend's birthday!


3 or 4 potatoes - diced
3 carrots - diced
2 stalks celery - diced
1/2 cup chopped onion

 Begin by dicing the carrots, celery including tops, and onions. 

 Put on medium heat, cover, and begin to simmer. Meanwhile, peel the potatoes.

Add diced potatoes to partially cooked vegetables. Cover and simmer until tender.



Now you make a roux. Melt 2 tablespoons on butter (not margarine) and add 2 tablespoons of flour. Stir over medium heat until flour is blended into butter.

Cook flour and butter until bubbling. That ensures the flour is cooked. Salt and pepper may be added at this time or later.

 Bottom pan: 2 cups cream and 1 quart half and half have been slowly added to the roux. Also some hot vegetable water has been added. By doing this it is not necessary to drain the vegetables.


Top pan: butter melted in skillet, then 1 pint oysters added. Be sure to feel each oyster carefully to make sure there are no shells pieces. Drain oyster liquor (juice) through fingers and add oyster to pan. Discard extra liquor.

It takes just a few minutes for oysters curl. Everything in the pan: oysters, butter, and juice that forms will be added to the cooked vegetables.

 Oysters curled.

Add roux mixture and cooked oysters with juice to vegetables. Stir gently. So not boil. Use low heat or put in crock pot on low to keep warm until time to serve.

We usually have a relish tray, hot rolls, and a glass of wine with this decadent family favorite.

 I hope you enjoy this family favorite, and let me know how yours turns out! 
Grandma Dorothy Rust
Oyster Chowder Recipe

 3 or 4 potatoes - diced

3 carrots - diced
2 stalks celery - diced
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 quart half and half
2 cups cream
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper

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