Oysters Africana

Mombasa oysters

Oyster recipes are not the first thing that springs to mind in a repertoire of African recipes.  But actually they are used quite a lot- smoked oysters are a favorite in West African dishes. Here are 2 really interesting recipes for oysters prepared in a very African way.

Huitres Azi Dessi

Who’d ever think to combine oysters ‘n peanut butter? In this dish from Togo, a former French colony, crispy, fried oysters are served with a spicy, unusual sauce with tomatoes, onions, a little smoked shrimp, and peanut.

Mussels, shrimp or langoustines pieces prepared in this manner also go well with the sauce. Kenyan Mombasa oysters are also though to find their origin in a colonial past. The Oysters are shucked on the half shell, and then quickly baked with a drizzling of fragrant garlic wine reduction spiced with chilli and chopped coriander. ..mmmm.

Huitres Azi Dessi

For the sauce:

1 tablespoon palm oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small red chilli

½ teaspoon minced fresh ginger

2 large ripe tomatoes, chopped

1½ tablespoon chunky peanut butter

1 teaspoon ground smoked shrimp

24 plump fresh oysters in the shell

Vegetable oil for frying

50 g whole wheat flour

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

lemon wedges to serve

Method: First make the sauce. Heat the palm oil in a pan and cook the onion, garlic, chilli and ginger over medium heat for a few minutes. Add the tomato and cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in the peanut butter. And cook for a minute or two. Sir in a few tablespoons of water if too thick.  Stir in the ground smoked shrimp just before serving and season to taste.

For the oysters- Shuck the oysters, remove them from the shell and drain in a sieve.  Heat the oil to fry the oysters. Season the flour with salt, pepper and cayenne and toss the oysters in the flour to coat completely. Fry the oysters until they are golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Serve the azi dessi sauce in a cleaned oyster shell with the fried oysters and wedges of lemon.

Huites Azi Dessi