Citrus-Pickled Oysters on Toast

  • 6
  • 120 mins

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 dried chiles de árbol
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Kosher salt
  • Pepper
  • 1/2 cup dry sherry
  • 1/4 cup Champagne vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 12 freshly shucked oysters with their liquor
  • 1 cup lightly packed frisée, white and light green leaves only
  • 1 cup chopped radicchio
  • Grilled rustic bread, for serving

Preparation

Step 1

In a medium saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, chiles, bay leaf and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sherry, vinegar, honey, lime zest and juice, lemon zest and 3 tablespoons of the lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Transfer to a heatproof medium bowl and immediately add the oysters along with their liquor. Let the oysters cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

In a medium bowl, toss the frisée and radicchio with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon each of olive oil and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Serve the oysters with a little of their pickling liquid on grilled bread, topped with the frisée and radicchio.