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This simple mignonette sauce is the ideal accompaniment for raw oysters and takes just 15 minutes of prep.
Do you like raw oysters? My brother Matt lives in Point Reyes, California and has access to wonderful oysters from Tomales Bay.
Lately he's been bringing a few dozen with him when he comes to visit. The oyster eaters among us gather and have quite the feast when he arrives.
What Is Mignonette Sauce?
My favorite accompaniment to fresh, raw oysters is this mignonette—a piquant sauce made with vinegar and shallots that you sprinkle on top of the oyster, much like a squeeze of lemon juice.
It's a lovely balance to the briny, somewhat creamy oysters.
An Oyster Sauce with French Roots
The recipe comes by way of my French sweetheart, who grew up on oysters in the South of France. This is his cherished mignonette recipe which he makes every time we have a gathering to enjoy oysters.
By the way, according to him, "mignonette" translates roughly into "cute, small, and tasty", and that's exactly what this is.
More Seafood Appetizers to Love
- Tempura Fried Calamari
- Ceviche
- Corn, Crab, and Old Bay Deviled Eggs
- Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
- Baked Stuffed Clams
Mignonette Sauce for Oysters
Prep Time15 mins
Marinating4 hrs
Total Time4 hrs 15 mins
Servings12 servings
Make the mignonette at least 4 hours ahead of time, preferably a day or two, which allows for the flavors to blend, and the shallots to mellow.
Ingredients
1/2 cup minced shallots (about 2 1/2 ounces)
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar (if using seasoned rice vinegar, omit the sugar and salt)
1/8 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/4 teaspoon finely crushed white peppercorns (do not use pre-ground or powdered white pepper)
Method
Finely mince the shallots:
Peel and coarsely chop the shallots. Put them into a food processor and pulse a few times, until the shallots are finely minced, but not mush, with pieces no smaller than the tip of a match.
You can also finely mince by hand if you wish. The advantage of using a food processor is that the food processor bowl captures all of the liquid released by the shallots as they are minced, which will enhance the flavor of the mignonette.
Stir in the vinegars, sugar, and salt:
Place the minced shallots and any liquid released from them in a non-reactive bowl. Add the white vinegar, rice vinegar, and sugar and salt. Stir with a fork.
Add the freshly crushed white pepper. Stir with a fork.
Chill:
Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours. For best results, store for at least 2 days before using.
The mignonette flavor will be better blended the longer it sits. You may notice that the crushed white peppercorns may sink to the bottom of the bowl as the mignonette rests. If you see this, just give it a little stir.
The mignonette will last up to a month in the refrigerator.
Serve the Mignonette:
To serve, shuck the oysters. (Here is an excellent video by Serious Eats on How to Shuck an Oyster.) Make sure that the oyster is loose in the shell before serving.
Usually the mignonette sauce is served in a small bowl with a small spoon, alongside the oysters on a platter (or as the French say, "plateau de coquillages"). People can scoop a small amount of the mignonette (1/8 of a teaspoon or so) onto their oyster before eating.
Did you love this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!
- French
- Seafood
- Oysters
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
7 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
1g | Carbs |
0g | Protein |
×
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 12 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 7 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 22mg | 1% |
Total Carbohydrate 1g | 0% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 1% |
Total Sugars 1g | |
Protein 0g | |
Vitamin C 0mg | 2% |
Calcium 4mg | 0% |
Iron 0mg | 1% |
Potassium 24mg | 1% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.