classic fried oysters

Briny flavored with a light-as-air texture, these fried oysters are going to become your new favourite appetizer. Pair with my chipotle aioli and they make the perfect dish year-round for something to snack on before dinner.

The Best Crispy Fried Oysters (Tempura-Style)

oysters (fresh, shucked)

flour

½ tsp baking soda

salt

½ C ice water

⅔ C ice-cold soda water

egg (room temperature)

egg yolk (room temperature)

olive oil

lemon juice

Dijon mustard

chipotle pepper in adobo sauce

drain

Prepare your oysters, and set them in a sieve to drain any excess moisture.

preheat

Pour your oil in a Dutch oven or large pot, and heat over medium high heat (this will take a few minutes).

whisk

Whisk the flour, salt and baking soda in a medium sized bowl.

Add the egg, water and soda water, mixing genltly to combine. The batter should have a pancake batter-like consistency. If you need to adjust, you can add more flour or water accordingly.

Place the oysters in the batter, and once your oil has reached 350°F, add the oysters one by one to the oil. Cook for 3-5 minutes depending on the size.

cool

Remove to a wire cooling rack over a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and serve with chipotle aioli.

blend

Combine all the ingredients in immersion blender. Blend for 10 seconds, or until smooth. Keep in the refridgerator until ready to serve.

For the Chipotle Aioli

https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/video/upload/t_original/v1658956070/wcnrffyyvdexvz24o87b.mp4

Fried oysters are light, crispy, and utterly delicious. They make for a perfect appetizer indulgence!

Fried Oysters (Tempura-Style)

Crispy Southern Fried Oysters - restaurant-quality and ready in minutes

Southern Fried Oysters

oysters

buttermilk

hot sauce

flour, all-purpose

yellow cornmeal (not self-rising)

Creole seasoning

paprika, smoky

black pepper

1+ cup frying oil, vegetable or peanut (See Recipe Notes)

Drain

Drain oysters in colander for about 15 minutes

Combine

In a medium mixing bowl, combine buttermilk and hot sauce

Coat

Place drained oysters in mixing bowl; pour buttermilk mixture over oysters coating well; allow to rest while you make the breading

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, Creole seasoning, salt, pepper and paprika

Dredge

Use tongs and remove an oyster from the buttermilk and place it in the breading mixture; coat well; place on wire rack and repeat until all oysters are breaded

Heat

In a heavy-duty stockpot (cast iron or cast enamel), heat oil to 325 - 350°F; (use a reliable thermometer)

Once oil is to the correct temperature, place breaded oysters in oil in a single layer; allow to cook for 2-3 minutes until golden brown; remove with tongs, spider or slotted spoon and place on paper towel; repeat process until all oysters are fried

Taste is great! Eat them while they are hot!

I accidentally used self rising meal, but my oysters still turned out great. Easy recipe. Love it. 😊❤️

The picture of oysters in oil depicts deep frying. Southern fry is always just enough oil to cover about half of what you're frying, never submerge completely in oil.

A wonderfully simple recipe my wife loved! Thanks for the cooking techniques that made it my best oysters!

I have tried many fried oyster recipes. I hope the nutrition estimate is correct because I want to make this every week.  Breading was light, spiced just right and it stayed on.  Oysters we’re crispy and juicy. I could really taste the oyster because the breading was not too much.  We loved it.

Literally the best fried oysters we have ever had. Highly recommend this recipe. Well done and well thought out. Ingredient portions are correct. I used Old Bay Seasoning instead of Creole seasoning as that's what I had. 

Thank you for posting this recipe.

I’ve tried several recipes and this is the only one where the breading didn’t fall off! Great flavor!!

This recipe was spot on!  I’ve made it twice with fresh gulf coast oysters and they were fantastic! 😋

Excellent !  Thanks for the heads up on the cold oyster and the hot oil and the issue with my breading falling off.  I definitely appreciate it.  Amazing easy recipe. 
Thanks again
Chris Mc

First recipe I clicked on for fried oysters. Batter has a very nice flavor, not too hot/spicy. The oyster flavor really comes through

Top 2 classic fried oysters recipes from across the web

The most viewed classic fried oysters recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

The Best Crispy Fried Oysters (Temp...

Southern Fried Oysters

Top 2 classic fried oysters recipes from across the web

The most viewed classic fried oysters recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

The Best Crispy Fried Oysters (Temp...

Southern Fried Oysters

The most viewed classic fried oysters recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine