Saffron Lobster Salad Recipes

TARRAGON LOBSTER SALAD

Steps:

• Plunge 2 live lobsters headfirst into an 8-quart pot of boiling salted water. Loosely cover pot and cook lobsters over moderately high heat 9 minutes from time they enter water, then transfer with tongs to sink to cool.
• Return water to a boil and cook remaining 2 lobsters in same manner.
• While lobsters are cooking, combine shallot, lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• When lobsters are cool, remove meat from claws, joints, and tails. Discard tomalley, any roe, and shells (or save for another use). Cut meat into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Whisk mayonnaise, tarragon, and 1/4teaspoon black pepper into shallot mixture. Add lobster meat and toss gently to coat.

LOBSTER SALAD WITH SAFFRON POTATOES AND CRISPY LEEKS

Steps:

• Cook lobster in boiling water for 3 1/2 minutes. Remove from water and set aside to cool.
• To make vinaigrette, in a deep bowl mix together sherry vinegar, olive oil, truffle oil, and salt and pepper, to taste.
• Heat 1/4-inch of oil in a deep saute pan to 350 degrees F.
• To prepare the leeks, boil in water for 1 minute. Dry the leeks completely then fry them in the oil until crispy. Remove from pan immediately, drain on a paper towel lined plate and set aside.
• To prepare the potato, peel in a cylindrical shape. Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add a pinch of saffron. Add the potato and cook until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Slice the potato into 5 (1/2-inch thick) medallions. Place in a bowl with shallots, 1/2 of the chives and 2 to 3 tablespoons of the vinaigrette. Add the truffle. Toss potatoes with the vinaigrette a few times to marinate. Place potatoes in the center of a plate.
• Shell the lobster and cut the meat into 1/2-inch medallions. Place the lobster in a bowl and toss with 3 to 4 tablespoons of vinaigrette. Heat lobster by placing the bowl in hot water for approximately 1 minute. Place lobster on top of potatoes. Place leeks on top of lobster. Finish the plate with a pinch of lobster roe and the rest of the chopped chives.

SAFFRON LOBSTER SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the white wine and garlic in a large pot and bring the liquid to a boil over medium heat. Add the lobsters, cover and steam for 12 minutes. Take the lobsters out of the pot. Set aside to cool. When the lobsters are cool enough to handle, remove the tail and claw meat from the shell and cut it into bite-size pieces. Refrigerate.
• Strain the lobster broth through a sieve lined with cheesecloth into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until it reduces to 1/4 cup, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the saffron and set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a pot, cover with cold water and simmer over medium heat until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold running water until cool. Cut the potatoes in half. Set aside.
• Pour the cooled lobster sauce into a large salad bowl. Whisk in the lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add the potatoes, lobster and basil. Toss gently. Refrigerate for up to 4 hours before serving.

LOBSTER SALAD

Steps:

• Make the poaching liquid: Freeze the lobsters for 20 minutes. (This sedates them and makes them more manageable.) Meanwhile, combine 1 gallon water, the bay leaves, thyme, red pepper flakes, paprika, parsley and peppercorns in a large pot. Halve the 4 lemons; squeeze the juice into the pot and then add the halves. Season the liquid with salt until it tastes as salty as the ocean. Bring to a boil; reduce the heat to a simmer.
• Kill the lobsters: This is the most humane method: Position the point of a knife on the middle of the back of the head; push the point straight down through the shell and lower the knife through the head. (The lobster may continue to move for a few minutes.)
• Poach the tails and claws: Hold each lobster over the pot of simmering liquid and twist the tail away from the body.
• Put the tails in the pot and cook 3 minutes, then twist off the large claws (with the knuckles attached), add to the pot and cook 7 more minutes.
• Transfer the lobster tails and claws to a bowl with tongs; let cool to room temperature.
• Make the aioli: Put the egg yolks, garlic, mustard, vinegar, hot sauce and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a food processor; pulse to combine. With the motor running, add the canola oil in a slow, steady stream and process until thick and creamy. Scrape into a bowl and set aside.
• Shell the lobsters: Stand each claw on one of its narrow edges and whack the top with a knife. Wiggle the knife until a crack runs through the claw.
• Repeat on the opposite edge, if necessary, to make the crack bisect the shell. Pull the claw apart and remove the meat.
• Insert the handle of a spoon into each knuckle and twist to pull out the meat.
• Lay each tail on its side. Put the palm of your hand on top, then press that hand with the heel of your other hand until the shell cracks.
• Hold the tail with the underside facing up. With your thumbs, grab the edges of the bottom of the shell.
• Bend back the edges of the shell to crack open the underside and remove the tail meat.
• Chop the lobster meat: Pull the flat piece of cartilage from the middle of each piece of claw meat and discard. Halve each tail lengthwise and clean out any visible vein or roe. Cut the claw, knuckle and tail meat into bite-size pieces.
• Make the salad: Combine the lobster meat, celery, about 1/4 cup aioli, the tarragon and chives in a bowl; toss. (Cover and refrigerate the rest of the aioli for up to 4 days.) Scoop the lobster salad onto butter lettuce leaves and sprinkle with more chives. Serve at room temperature with the lemon wedges.

SAFFRON LOBSTER SALAD ON GRILLED FINGERLINGS

Steps:

• Cook's Note: Use the leftover lobster meat from the whole lobsters that were cooked in the Grilled Lobster Tails with Green Curry-Mango Dipping Sauce recipe.
• Add vinegar, saffron, and honey to a small skillet and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Turn off the heat and let mixture cool to room temperature. In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, garlic, and cooled vinegar mixture. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, combine the lobster, celery, onion, and chives, and stir together. Add 1/2 cup of the saffron mayonnaise to the mixture and stir well. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high. Brush potatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill potatoes, cut-side down, until golden brown. Turn over and grill for 2 more minutes. Remove potatoes from the grill and place a small dollop of lobster salad on each potato.