Lobster And Confetti Vegetable Salad Recipes

LOBSTER AND CONFETTI VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Place mustard in small bowl. Whisk in 2 tablespoons vinegar and orange juice. Gradually whisk in oil. Mix in tarragon, shallot and orange peel. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
• Char bell peppers over gas flamer or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel and seed peppers; cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Place in large bowl.
• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add lobster tails and cook 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl of ice water and cool. Add green beans to same pot of boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer beans to another bowl of ice water and cool. Add potato to same pot of boiling water and cook 2 minutes. Add corn kernels; cook until potato and corn are just tender, about 2 minutes longer. Drain well; add to bowl with peppers. Drain green beans; pat dry with paper towels. Add beans to potato mixture.
• Drain lobster; remove meat from shells. Cut meat crosswise into rounds. (Dressing, lobster and salad can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.) Mix lobster with 1 1/2 tablespoons dressing. Mix remaining dressing into salad. Season with salt and pepper.
• Toss greens with remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar. Place on large platter. Mound salad on greens. Arrange lobster over greens and serve.

LOBSTER SALAD WITH GREEN BEANS, TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• In a large pot or in batches, so as not to crowd them, steam or boil the lobsters in seawater or heavily salted water. Add the bay leaf, peppercorns and allspice berries, if you wish. Depending on their size, cook the lobsters for 13 to 15 minutes. (Ask your fishmonger for recommended cooking time.) Let lobsters cool to room temperature on rimmed baking sheets.
• Using lobster crackers, kitchen shears or a mallet, crack shells and remove meat. Place the claw meat and knuckle meat in a container. Slice tail meat 1/2-inch thick and add to the container. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the vinaigrette: Add garlic, mustard, vinegar, olive oil, parsley and basil leaves to a blender jar or food processor. Whiz until slightly thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Put cherry tomatoes in a small bowl, season with salt and pepper and add 3 tablespoons vinaigrette. Toss to combine. To another small bowl, add green beans and 3 tablespoons vinaigrette. Toss to combine.
• Arrange lobster meat in the center of a platter or divide among individual plates. Surround with tomato slices, and season lightly with salt and pepper. Spoon cherry tomatoes over the tomato slices. Scatter green beans artfully. Tuck eggs and potatoes here and there (or serve potatoes separately). Finish with arugula or salad leaves.
• Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over everything. Garnish with the prettiest basil leaves. Serve aioli on the side, if using.