Oyster Stew - Fort Larned National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service) (2024)

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Oyster Stew - Fort Larned National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)? ›

Oyster stew came to this country with Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine. Catholic tradition banned meat on Christmas Eve so many Irish families ate a soup or stew of fish. Oysters were substituted for fish and it became a traditional Christmas dish for many, whether Irish or not.

As well, oysters started to become associated with Christmas, because they were most readily available to be consumed during December. By the mid-1800s, the country flooded with Irish immigrants. Poor, starved from the potato famine, and in search of sanctuary, the Irish brought with them their strict Catholic diets.

Oyster stew contains 7.2 g of saturated fat and 69 mg of cholesterol per serving. 245 g of Oyster stew contains 171.50 mcg vitamin A, 0.0 mg vitamin C, 1.72 mcg vitamin D as well as 3.87 mg of iron, 259.70 mg of calcium, 394 mg of potassium. Oyster stew belong to 'Soups' food category.

You'll notice that meat is missing – during the Wigilia dinner, we don't eat meat (besides fish). This is a Polish pagan tradition, not a Catholic tradition, which reminds us of the fruits of the earth, forests, and water that primarily fed our ancestors (Dziura 38).

Origins and tradition

This celebration commemorates the wait, the Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus. The long tradition of eating seafood on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from eating meat on the eve of a feast day.

Bourdain's love of food was kindled in his youth while on a family vacation in France when he tried his first oyster from a fisherman's boat.

Slang. a closemouthed or uncommunicative person, especially one who keeps secrets well. something from which a person may extract or derive advantage: The world is my oyster.

The tradition of indulging in oysters during Christmas became more pronounced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a time when oyster harvesting was at its peak, and these shellfish were plentiful along the coasts.

Oyster stew comes together quickly, and is best made and then eaten. You can reheat leftovers very gently on the stove, but it just won't be quite as nice. I do not recommend freezing it, as the cream gets all weird, and the oysters' texture suffers.

How long will oyster stew keep in the refrigerator? ›

Allow the oyster stew to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

They're packed with high quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants — all of which benefit health. Still, raw oysters can contain potentially harmful bacteria. To avoid getting sick, enjoy oysters cooked instead. If you're a seafood lover, try adding these tasty, nutrient-dense mollusks to your diet.

In Italy, Christmas Eve dinner is traditionally lighter with no meat and a lot of seafood, while the Italian-American meal has evolved into much more of a feast. Bring on the sword fish, tuna, salmon, octopus salad, smelts, calamari, spaghetti with clam sauce and the famous Italian classic—salted cod, known as baccalà.

The tradition of preparing fish on Christmas Eve originated from the Catholic rituals of fasting or abstaining from meat and other dairy products on the eve of certain holy days, including Christmas. As no meat could be consumed during this period, fish cooked in oil would be eaten instead of meat.

In much of Italy, tradition calls for fish on Christmas Eve, once a day of abstinence in the church calendar. Fish is tied to the Christian religion in other ways: As far back as the days of the Roman Empire, a fish symbol was used by early Christians as a way of identifying each other.