In a large stock pot (or you may use a double boiler) saute the grated onion in butter.
Add the milk.
Add the oysters with liquor, cream, salt and pepper.
Heat the milk slowly, stirring often and do not allow it to boil.If using whole oysters, the edges will curl when cooked. If using chopped oysters, the oysters will lose their shiny appearance and become darker in color.
Ladle into bowls and Enjoy!
Notes
Notes On Preparing This Oyster Stew Recipe
Often in oyster stew, the oysters are left whole and you know they are completely cooked when the edges curl. I chop the oysters to stretch them, as I did in this recipe. Make sure to stir frequently, heat the milk slowly and do not to allow the milk to boil.
Note that I allowed for the possibility of using ghee in this recipe. That's okay! In addition to ghee, you can also use sea salt instead of kosher salt. Because this is a traditional recipe, however, watch and make sure your stew looks like a stew at the end. Because different people want different kinds of substitutes, sometimes you have to check back with the real thing.
An important note on oyster safety:
Oysters are a delicious food that can be enjoyed most of the time. But oysters are filter feeders, meaning that they filter ocean water and eat the yucky stuff in the ocean.Watch for warnings about eating oysters whenever you buy them fresh. They may be affected by storms or oceanic events. Oysters are great at sorting out the gunk and keeping the order of the ocean! However, that means that they're working overtime during storms.As always, take advantage of local fisherpeople and fishmongers in your area if you have access. These are wonderful sources of knowledge that have worked away at this for generations. They may even have cooking tips!