Poached Lobsters Homards Poches Recipes

PERFECT POACHED LOBSTER

Steps:

• Fill a very large (18- to 20-quart) stockpot 3/4 full with water, add 2 tablespoons of salt, cover and bring to a full rolling boil. Immerse the lobsters in the water and cook for 10 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the underside of a tail registers 140 degrees F. (Don't worry if the water doesn't come back to a boil.) Remove the lobsters with tongs and set aside until cool enough to handle. Remove the lobster meat from the shell, including the claws.

BUTTER POACHED LOBSTER SHOOTERS

Steps:

• Reserve 1 cup of clarified butter and try to keep warm.
• Place lobster tails in a large pot and cover with the remaining butter. Add 3 cloves of garlic to the pot. Poach on a low heat until the lobster shell changes color and meat is cooked. Allow to cool slightly and harvest meat from tails. Chop meat into bite-size pieces.
• While meat is still warm, assemble the shooters. In shot glass pour a bit of the reserved warm butter into each glass. Top with lobster meat and drizzle with a bit of the lemon juice.

POACHED LOBSTERS (HOMARDS POCHES)

Steps:

• Combine the water, vinegar, bay leaf, peppercorns, salt and lobsters in a kettle large enough to hold the lobsters comfortably. Cover closely.
• Bring to the boil over high heat. At the boiling point, let cook two minutes. Drain immediately.
• Cut the lobster crosswise in half at the point where the tail meets the body.

BUTTER-POACHED LOBSTER ROLLS WITH CELERY FENNEL SLAW

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Remove the claws and tails from the lobsters. Boil the tails for 1 minute and the claws for 4 minutes, then remove from the water. Immediately remove the meat from the shells and set aside.
• Add the oil to a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add and sweat the onions, garlic and bay leaves until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Carefully add the vermouth and reduce until dry, about 2 minutes. Add the cream, then reduce by two-thirds, until thick. Slowly whisk in the pound of butter little by little until fully emulsified. Add the lobster tail and claw meat to the butter cream sauce and poach over low heat at 165 degrees F until cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove the lobster from the pan and allow to cool just to the touch. Rough chop and set aside.
• Add the mustard seeds, vinegar, sugar and 1 tablespoon kosher salt to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, separate the celery into stalks. Using a Japanese mandoline, slice the celery into paper-thin strips. Cut the fennel bulb into quarters. Using the Japanese mandoline, slice the fennel bulb paper thin.
• In a medium bowl, toss the celery slices, fennel slices, mustard oil and 2 tablespoons pickled mustard seeds. Taste and adjust as desired with more mustard seeds. Keep cool until ready to serve.
• In a 12-inch cast-iron pan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and griddle the buns, top side-down, over medium-high heat until golden brown.
• Open the buns and fill with spoonfuls of the lobster mixture. Top with a handful of the slaw and garnish with the reserved fennel fronds.

POACHED LOBSTERS WITH BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring enough water to a boil to cover the lobsters when they are added. Put in lobsters and let water return to boil. Cook 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, trim off ends of zucchini and steam or boil. To steam, place zucchini in top of a steamer rack and put rack over the steamer bottom containing boiling water. To boil, bring enough water to a boil to cover zucchini when added. Add the zucchini. Steam or boil the zucchini 4 minutes or until tender but still crisp. Drain.
• In the meantime, heat 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan and add shallots. Cook until wilted. Add wine and basil. Bring to boil and cook until the liquid is almost evaporated. Add cream and bring to boil. Cook about 30 seconds. Swirl in remaining 2 tablespoons butter, salt and cayenne.
• Line a small saucepan with a sieve and pour the sauce into it. Press as much liquid as possible from the solids. Serve hot.
• Drain lobsters. It is best to remove meat from shells. It is easier, however, to split lobsters in half lengthwise and spoon small amounts of sauce on top. Serve zucchini cut into thin slices with melted butter brushed on top.