Grilled oysters with Herbed Butter is a simple yet stunning recipe from Tommaso Shellfish, a family-owned oyster farm in Sea Otter Sound, Alaska. Fresh-shucked oysters are topped with a garlic and herb compound butter, grilled until bubbling, and finished with Parmesan for a rich, briny bite straight from Alaska’s waters.
Trawl-Free Recipe by Tommaso Shellfish

This month’s Trawl-Free Table recipe comes from Tommaso Shellfish, a small, family-owned and operated oyster farm nestled in the cold, remote waters of Sea Otter Sound, near Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. Started over 15 years ago from scratch, their timber floathouse was locally milled and built from the water up, with daily operations managed by just two people, Jimmy and Katie, who harvest and handle their oysters largely by hand. Each oyster takes 2-3 years of careful tending to reach market size using a variety of gear methods. Tommaso Shellfish strives to be good stewards of the sea, growing Pacific Oysters that reflect the pristine coastal landscape and surrounding old-growth temperate rainforest of Sea Otter Sound. We are so glad they shared their recipe for Grilled Alaskan Oysters with Herbed Butter with our Trawl-Free Table.
Ingredients
- 24 fresh Alaska oysters
- 1 c unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped (optional)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
- Hot sauce (optional)
To order oysters, visit TommasoShellfish.com
Make the Compound Butter
Combine the softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a food processor or a medium bowl. Pulse the mixture until all ingredients are well combined. Refrigerate until firm—about an hour.
Prepare the Oysters
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (around 400°F to 475°F). Shuck the oysters, keeping the meat and as much of their natural liquid (“liquor”) as possible in the deep, cupped half of the shell. Carefully run an oyster knife or a small spoon underneath the oyster meat to release it from its bottom shell.
Grill the Oysters
Arrange the shucked oysters on your grill, making sure they sit level so the juices and butter don’t spill out. You can use crumpled aluminum foil on a baking sheet to create a stable base if needed. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the compound butter mixture on top of each oyster. Close the grill lid and cook for about 3- to 5 minutes, or until the liquid and butter mixture is vigorously bubbling and the edges of the oyster meat begin to curl. Try not to overcook. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the bubbling butter during the last minute of grilling until melted and golden brown. Top with some hot sauce for a little heat if that’s how you like it. Enjoy!



