Ingredient of the Week

Feb 12 2009 With Chris Duffy

OYSTERS are a culinary luxury, so might not be a first choice in these credit crunch times!

But they’re also known for their aphrodisiac powers – and as it’s Valentine’s day on Saturday, a romantic treat is surely in order.

Oysters can be eaten half shelled, raw, smoked, boiled, baked in beef casseroles like they did in the old days, bread-crumbed and deep fried, roasted, stewed, steamed, grilled with smoked bacon and hollandaise or used in a variety of drinks.

Preparation can be as simple as opening the shell and adding butter, shallot, Tabasco sauce and salt.

Oysters are high in protein and low in fat. They are rich in zinc and contain many other minerals such as calcium, iron, copper and magnesium.