
A historical sauce from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). Oyster sauce is used for fish, boiled turkey, chickens and boiled white meats of most kinds.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Take a pint of oysters and heat them in their own liquor long enough to come to a boil, or until they begin to ruffle
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Skim out the oysters into a warm dish
Put into the liquor a teacup of milk or cream, two tablespoonfuls of cold butter, a pinch of cayenne and salt
Thicken with a tablespoonful of flour stirred to a paste
Boil up and then add the oysters
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Heating oysters in their own liquor gently poaches them while concentrating their briny flavor into the sauce base. The cold butter creates an emulsion when whisked into the hot liquid, yielding a silky texture, while the flour paste acts as a stabilizer to prevent breaking. Removing oysters before thickening prevents overcooking—oysters toughen quickly above 140°F—ensuring they stay tender when returned to the finished sauce.
The sauce base (without oysters) can be made up to 1 day ahead. Prepare through step 4, cool completely, and refrigerate in an airtight container. Reheat gently over low heat, whisking constantly, then add freshly poached oysters just before serving.
Store completed sauce with oysters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat very gently over low heat, stirring constantly, until just warmed through (do not boil or oysters will become rubbery). The sauce may separate slightly upon reheating; whisk vigorously to re-emulsify.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The sauce base (without oysters) can be made up to 1 day ahead. Prepare through step 4, cool completely, and refrigerate in an airtight container. Reheat gently over low heat, whisking constantly, then add freshly poached oysters just before serving.
Store completed sauce with oysters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat very gently over low heat, stirring constantly, until just warmed through (do not boil or oysters will become rubbery). The sauce may separate slightly upon reheating; whisk vigorously to re-emulsify.