Delectable Crayfish Lobster Recipes

LOBSTER RECIPES - FOR COOKED LOBSTER OR CRAYFISH

Steps:

• If lobster was frozen, thaw lobster overnight in a bowl or tray (with sides to catch liquid). Drain well before use.
• Cut between head and tail: Insert a small knife at a 45 degree angle into the gap between the tail and head. Cut along the top and sides through to the middle - no need to do underneath.
• Separate head from tail: Twist the tail to separate it from the head. It will pull out meat from the head as well.
• Clean: Scrape or trim off any yellow of black residue on the end that came out of the head.
• Cut underside: Cut down both sides of the soft shell on the underside of the tail. Then peel it back like a can of sardines to reveal the lobster flesh.
• Remove flesh: Carefully remove the flesh - it should come off the shell cleanly.
• Remove poop vein - if you see a poop vein (black "string" down the back of the lobster tail meat), then carefully pull it out. If you stretch the meat out straight, you should be able to pull it out in one go. Otherwise, pick it out when you slice it. (Sometimes poop vein is thick, sometimes barely there!)
• Residual meat in head: There will be some residual meat in the head that can be used. The yellow "mustard" (called tomalley) has very intense lobstar flavour but is an acquired taste... I do not eat it!
• How to serve: Lobster tail meat can be served whole, sliced into thick or thin pieces or diced, depending on use. I do not recommend shredded as it loses juiciness.
• Make Sauce per the Dipping Sauces recipe.
• Serve alongside lobster for dipping. Either cut the lobster into bite size pieces, or serve whole for people to cut themselves. Plate it up individually or on a share platter.
• Make the Prawn Cocktail recipe but substitute prawn for lobster cut into small bite size pieces.
• Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Once foamy, add garlic and cook until light golden. Remove from stove, add lemon juice and parsley.
• Serving: Pour into serving bowl and serve alongside lobster. Garnish with parsley leaves and lemon wedges.
• Eating: Let people either dip in bite size pieces or drizzle over lobster, plated up indivudually or on a share style plate. Mop plate clean with crusty bread!
• Make the sauce per the Lemon Browned Butter Sauce recipe.
• Slice the lobster into bite size pieces. Pile onto plate or arrange on indivudual plates. Sprinkle with salt (necessary as browned butter is unsalted).
• Serving: Drizzle with some browned butter, then serve more on the side. Garnish with parsley leaves and lemon wedges.
• Eating: To eat, dip or drizzle lobster with more browned butter. Mop plate clean with crusty bread!
• Blitz ingredients in a Nutribullet or small food processor until it becomes a paste. It should be smooth but a bit of courseness for texture ie don't blend into a smoothie.
• Slice lobster into bite size pieces. Arrange on indvidual plates or share plate. Drizzle little dollops of salsa verde over lobster - don't go overboard, the flavour is quite strong!
• Garnish with lemon wedges & parlsey leaves, serve.
• Place lobster in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, lemon, chives, celery, green onions, salt and pepper. Gently toss to coat.
• Split then generously butter buns or rolls. Stuff generously! Makes 2 mini brioche buns or 3 round rolls.

DELECTABLE CRAYFISH (LOBSTER)

Steps:

• Slice crayfish meat into medallions.
• Mix butter and 1/4 teaspoon southern comfort and melt in a small frypan (skillet) on a low heat.
• Add crayfish meat and cook to meat colours but translucent at the centre.
• Add 1 tablespoon of southern comfort and flambe, once flames settle move frypan of the heat, season with salt and pepper.
• Put back on low heat, add sour cream and warm through.
• Toss in spring onions and stir through.
• Serve over rice.

GRILLED LOBSTER TAILS WITH LEMON & HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• Make the butter by mixing together all the ingredients, then season and set aside. Can be made two days ahead. Remove from the fridge to soften before using.
• Use kitchen scissors to cut along the tops of the lobster shells, then flip the tails over and crack the ribs of the shell. Use your fingers to open the shell and loosen the meat keeping it attached at the base and pull it half out. Use a knife to cut along the top of the tail without cutting all the way through and remove the vein if you see one. Sit the tail in a shallow roasting tray and add some butter to each one. Tails can be prepared a few hours ahead and chilled.
• Heat the grill to high, then grill the lobster tails for 10 mins until cooked through. Put them on plates and drizzle with the butter from the pan, or pour the butter into a ramekin and put it in the middle of the table for dipping the lobster meat in. Serve with lemon wedges and scatter with extra parsley, if you like.

NEXT LEVEL LOBSTER THERMIDOR

Steps:

• Snap the claws and smaller legs away from each lobster. Cut the main section in half lengthways using a large chef's knife, and scoop the contents of the head cavities into a bowl, then remove the dark vein from the tail meat and discard. Remove the tail meat, chop into large chunks and put in another bowl. Lay the empty shells cut-side up on a baking tray and set aside.
• Crack the claws and knuckles, then pick out all the meat using a skewer or lobster pick. Roughly chop and add to the bowl with the tail meat. Put any shards of shell into the bowl with the head meat. Use a rolling pin to roll along the length of the small, spindly legs and push out the meat, then tip into the bowl with the claw and tail meat. Again, put any broken shells into the bowl with the head meat. The lobster can an be prepped up to a day before. Cover and chill the meat and broken shells until needed.
• To make the sauce, heat the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat and cook the shallots for 5-6 mins until soft and golden. Add the broken shells and head meat, then turn up the heat and cook for 2 mins more. Splash in the wine or vermouth and bubble for 2 mins to reduce. Pour over the stock and cream, bring to the boil, then continue to cook for 10-12 mins until the mixture has reduced and thickened. Turn the heat off and leave to cool slightly, then pour into another saucepan through a fine mesh sieve, pressing the shells and meat against the mesh with the back of a spoon to extract all the sauce. Stir in the mustard and lemon juice, then taste for seasoning. The sauce can be made the day before, covered and kept chilled.
• Heat the grill to high. Spoon the claw and tail meat into the empty reserved shells. Reheat the sauce over a low heat until warmed through, if needed, then stir through the herbs. Spoon the sauce over the lobster meat in the shells, then sprinkle with the parmesan and put under the grill for 4-5 mins until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese lightly golden. Serve with chips or boiled small potatoes and a green salad.