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Grilled East Coast Oysters with Corn Jalapeño Salsita

These grilled oysters with corn jalapeño salsita offer a sophisticated yet simple way to enjoy fresh seafood on the barbecue. This dairy-free starter celebrates the natural sweetness of summer corn and plum tomatoes, which are charred over an open flame to create a smoky, vibrant salsita. The addition of roasted jalapeño provides a gentle heat that cuts through the briny richness of the oysters, making it an ideal choice for an outdoor dinner party or a light weekend lunch.

Preparing the salsita ahead of time allows the flavours to meld beautifully, leaving you with more time to focus on the grill. As the oysters hit the heat, they steam in their own juices until the shells pop open, ready to be topped with the zesty vegetable relish. Serve these immediately while the shells are still warm for a high-protein, heart-healthy appetiser that brings a taste of the coast to your garden.

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Ingredients for Grilled East Coast Oysters with Corn Jalapeño Salsita

  • 4 ears of corn, shucked

  • Canola oil for grilling

  • 2 plum tomatoes, sliced in half, lengthwise

  • 1 red onion, sliced

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 jalapeño pepper, roasted, deveined, seeded, and diced

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

  • Kosher salt

  • 12 oysters, scrubbed

How to make Grilled East Coast Oysters with Corn Jalapeño Salsita

Light a fire in a charcoal or gas grill. Place the corn—without anything on it—on the grill grate. Grill the ears of corn, rotating the corn as needed to keep it from getting charred too much on one side, for about 7 minutes. (Don't overcook the corn, or it will become mushy!) Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Remove the kernels from the cobs and set aside.

Meanwhile, squirt just a bit of canola oil on the tomato and onion slices. Sprinkle pepper on top. Place the onion slices on the grill. Add the tomatoes cut-side down on the hot grate and grill until both are nicely browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn the onion slices and tomatoes with tongs and continue grilling until the bottoms of the tomatoes (the rounded parts) are nicely browned and the onion becomes softer and fragrant, about 3 more minutes.

Dice the onion and tomatoes and place in a bowl. Add the corn kernels and the jalapeño. Pour in the olive oil and vinegar and stir to combine. Season with salt. This can be done up to one day ahead of time; just bring the salsita to room temperature prior to serving.

Place the oysters directly on the grates of the grill, close the cover, and cook until all of the oysters have opened, 4 to 5 minutes. Discard any oysters that have not opened on their own. Further open the ones that have started to open and top each one with 1 teaspoon of the corn and jalapeño salsita. Serve hot.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 16 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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