Lemon vodka oyster shooters
Every party needs that one dish that adds the spark, that draws the “oohs and aahs” the minute it’s set on the table. These oyster shooters are that dish.
And -- guess what? They’re easy to prepare, not to mention hugely festive.
Set amid ice in a silver bucket, the individual shooters practically glow. They’ll pull in guests like a magnet, since it seems everybody is always up for a shooter of some kind.
On the front side, of course, you’ll be happy too, especially if you buy oysters that are already shucked. No need to mess with shells. (Fresh are wonderful too.)
The sauce is quite simple to prepare -- just a little mincing of a shallot, some chives and cilantro. By soaking the shallot in the vinegar, the shooters will lose any sharp oniony edge.
Since vodka and oysters go well together, we took a step further and opted for a lemon-flavored vodka. Even those who might be oyster-shy won’t refuse one of these; the flavor of vodka and the sauce really stand out.
Either bring the shooters out with a little fanfare mid-party, or get them on the table as guests arrive; they won’t upstage your other offerings, but only make the table more exciting. Fun, festive, easy? What more could you want?
Soak the minced shallot in the vinegar in a medium bowl for about 15 minutes. Stir in the vodka, chives, cilantro, salt and pepper; mix well.
Place 1 oyster in each of 12 shot glasses. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the vodka mixture into each glass. Fill a large bowl, about 4 to 6 inches deep, with crushed ice and insert each shot glass decoratively into the ice. Serve immediately.
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