These Yemaya’s Oysters named after the Goddess of the Sea are simply delicious! Freshly shucked oysters and topped with simple ingredients. Oysters on the half shell, true oyster perfection!

Yemaya's Oysters-freshly shucked oysters sitting on a bed of crushed ice.

First let me tell you how I came up with the name to this recipe. First and foremost, it wasn’t me! It was my 16 year old son. He reminded me of the patron saint, “Yemaya,” (Goddess of the Sea). “Since she is the Goddess of the Sea, why not name this recipe after her ma?” Well, I thought it fitting!

Whether you call it oysters on the half shell, oysters straight up, oyster shots, RAW oysters, they surely are. Yes, the way they should be for us oyster aficionados.

My foodie friends, maybe you already know what my favorite food is with all the seafood recipes here on Mexican Appetizers and More….. YES it surely is SEAFOOD!!

But not just SEAFOOD, I love SHELLFISH!

So these Yemaya Oysters are right down my alley.

Two Types of Shellfish

There are two types of shellfish, crustaceans and mollusks. Crustaceans, includes, crab, lobster, shrimp etc…Mollusks include, oysters, clams, mussels and scallops.

Now that being said, what’s my favorite mollusk? Yep! You guessed it…… by far it’s the OYSTER. Let me just say this, I can have these any which way you make them, but certainly on the half shell is one of my favorites, if not my favorite. I love them simply adorned….some lime, some hot sauce…..and that’s it! Then just……slurp….chew…..swallow.

How can anyone look at an oyster and get “grossed out” or “turned off?” As I have often heard people say! And usually these are the ones who have never even tried one! I am really, really guilty of getting people to fall in love with them though. First, I start with a little bit of pressure (quilt…), “how can you talk if you have never had them, you never even had an oyster?” Next, (convincing) “please try it one time, one time!…I will stop bothering you if you do, come on pleaseeee,” (Second party)” Okay, hurry up, let me try it, hurry up!”

Here is usually how it goes from that point on……

“That was gooood, OMG, that wasn’t bad at all, OMG that was reaaaally good.” “Could I try one more?” And I just smirk and say, “absolutely, here you go!”

So if YOU have never had one, you must at least try one!

Here are some interesting fun facts about oysters.

They offer a high levels of heart and brain boosting Omega 3 fatty acids.
Have more Zinc per serving than any other food.
Because oysters are high in calcium, they are great for your garden’s soil pH balance.
Oysters are tastier in months that have r’s in them.
Oysters are both male and female and change back and forth accordingly.
The female oyster releases over a million eggs in the spawning season.
The Chinese were probably the first to raise oysters artificially in ponds.
It is said that Casanova reportedly ate 50, 60 oysters with his breakfast.

Oysters can even protect houses from hurricanes!

Don’t know how to shuck an oyster? Take a look at this video by Chef Jason Hill on Chef Tips.

Ok let’s get started! Shucking the oysters is the hardest part of this recipe….very easy recipe!

ENJOY!!!

📖 Recipe

Yemaya’s Oysters

These Yemaya’s Oysters named after the Goddess of the Sea are simply delicious! Freshly shucked oysters and topped with simple ingredients. Oysters on the half shell, true oyster perfection!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 20

Servings:

Calories: 19kcal

Author: Catherine Arena

Ingredients

▢ 2 dozen oysters shucked
▢ Tabasco Green pepper sauce
▢ 2-4 limes quartered and sprinkle lime juice on top of oysters

OPTIONAL

▢ 1 roma tomato chopped
▢ 1 small sprig of scallion chopped
▢ 1 lime juiced

LAY OYSTERS ON

▢ coarse sea salt
▢ crushed ice

Instructions

IF USING OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS

Mix chopped ingredients together. Add lime juice. Mix together and set aside in refrigerator while you shuck oysters.

Tray for Oysters

Add sea salt to bottom of a tray, add crushed ice on top (sea salt helps keep the ice from melting).

Oysters

Rinse oysters under cold water. Remove any mud or debris from shells.
Discard any oysters that are open and don’t close when tapped. (Oysters that don’t close are dead and must be discarded)
Shuck oysters and place on top of tray. Keep oysters cold. Top with chopped ingredients, if using.
Sprinkle lime juice on each oyster and a few drops of the green tabasco sauce.
Serve immediately! Enjoy!