Oysters for Breakfast: Creamy Oysters Cock-a-Cilla and Toast

Oysters for breakfast? Better believe it! As the cooler mornings start to creep in, we think fondly of cozy mornings here on the homestead. We had to dig out this family recipe for one of our favorite hearty oyster breakfasts served over toast – Oysters Cock-a-Cilla.

Oysters Cock-a-Cilla is a family recipe created and first served on Christmas morning in 1980 by Mary Priscilla Cockrell and Priscilla Stevens. The meal was stirred up with love over a wood fire in the home of Mary Priscilla and Dandridge Cockrell, and since then the recipe has been shared with many friends and family.

The creamy oyster dish is a simple, delightful way to enjoy oysters for breakfast. You can make this recipe with just a few ingredients, and our fresh-shucked jarred oysters delivered right to your doorstep make it easy to enjoy the delicious taste of the Chesapeake. 

Ingredients

• 1 pint fresh-shucked jarred Little Wicomico Oysters, chopped
• 2-3 tablespoons butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 6-oz can sliced mushrooms
• 4 cups medium white sauce (8 tbs butter, 8 tbs flour, 4 cups milk)
• Dash of Worcestershire sauce
• *optional: garnish with a bit of parsley to add a pop of color when serving

To prepare

For the white sauce:

1. Make a roux with the butter and flour by melting the butter, and stirring in the flour. Be careful to not cook it too long so the sauce stays light in color
2. Add milk slowly, stirring constantly as it thickens. You can add more milk to reach desired consistency. 

Note: to make one cup of white sauce, use 2 tbs butter, 2 tbs flour, 1 cup milk. We increased by 4x to make the four cups of white sauce for the recipe, but if you have a smaller family and plan on cutting the recipe in half you can adjust the quantities in the white sauce accordingly.

For the meal:

1. Melt butter in pan and add chopped onions, sauté onions until they are translucent. 
2. Add the chopped oysters and mushrooms, cook until the oysters are cooked through. 
3. Add the prepared white sauce, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and serve over toast. 
4. Enjoy! If you make this recipe, share it with us on Instagram by tagging @lwoysters.