Grilled Oysters Fra Diavla

I was recently introduced to oysters and BOY was I in love!  They have an amazing fresh, salty brine that tickles your tongue while going down and are so beautiful with both a hearty beer or wine and a spicy sauce!  If you have been afraid to try and have a Whole Foods near you, ask them to show you how to shuck and eat one.  It will change your life!

But I digress.  These oysters were grilled, not eaten raw.  I let them steam in their brine in the Big Green Egg so they grabbed a nice smokiness as well.  Then they had a wonderfully spicy far diavla sauce spooned on top.  I served these with grilled shrimp and if you just can't bring yourself to try the oysters, try the sauce on the shrimp.

Grilled Oysters with Fra Diavolo Sauce (Recipe by Bobby Flay)

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 3 very ripe large beefsteak tomatoes, halved, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 shallots, thinly sliced
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus leaves for garnish
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon red chile flakes (or more if you prefer it really spicy)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 20 to 24 medium to large oysters, such as Blue Point or Gulf Coast
• 2 cups kosher salt, for serving

Directions

Heat the oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the tomatoes, garlic and shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and juicy, but with no color, about 5 minutes.

Transfer the mixture to a blender, add a few tablespoons olive oil, the parsley, vinegar, honey, oregano and red pepper flakes and blend until slightly chunky; season with salt and pepper. If too thick, pulse in a bit more olive oil. Transfer the sauce to a bowl. (Can be made 1 hour before and kept at room temperature.)

Preheat the grill for high direct heat.

Remove the top shells of the oysters. Loosen the oysters from the bottom shells but do not remove, taking care not to spill the liquor. Put the oysters on the grill, cover and cook just until the edges start to curl, about 1 minute.

Meanwhile, wet the kosher salt with water just until it clumps together. Spoon little mounds of salt onto a large platter. Place a cooked oyster on each salt bed and top each with some vinaigrette. Scatter the parsley leaves over the platter and serve.