James Martins Lobster Thermidor Recipes

LOBSTER THERMIDOR

Steps:

• Cut the lobster in half lengthwise, and remove the meat from the claws and tail. Leave to one side. Remove any meat from the head and set aside. Cut the meat up into pieces and place back into the shell.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot; cook and stir until tender. Mix in the fish stock, white wine and double cream. Bring to a boil, and cook until reduced by half. Mix in the mustard, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Preheat your oven's broiler.
• Place the lobster halves on a broiling pan or baking sheet, and spoon the sauce over the lobster meat in the shell. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top.
• Broil for 3 to 4 minutes, just until golden brown. Serve immediately.

JAMES MARTIN'S LOBSTER THERMIDOR

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to its highest setting. Place the lobster shells onto a large baking tray and set aside.
• Heat half of the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat until foaming. Fry the shallots for 3-4 minutes, until softened.
• Pour in the wine and bring the mixture to the boil. Simmer until the volume of liquid has reduced by half, then add the stock and continue to simmer until reduced slightly. Add the double cream and mustard and simmer again for 3-4 minutes, until slightly thickened.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining butter in a separate frying pan over a medium heat. Add the mushrooms and fry for 2-3 minutes, until just softened. Transfer to a bowl and season well with salt and pepper.
• When the sauce has reduced, add the mushrooms and lobster meat and stir through. Add the parsley, lemon juice and half of the Parmesan and season again.
• Whisk in the egg yolks and continue to cook the mixture over a low heat for 1-2 minutes, until just thickened.
• Divide the lobster meat and sauce between the lobster shells, then sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and remaining Parmesan.
• Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a deep-fat fryer to 190C. Alternatively, heat the oil in a heavy-based, deep-sided pan until a breadcrumb sizzles and turns golden-brown when dropped into it. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous; do no leave unattended.)
• Carefully lower the chipped potatoes into the hot oil and fry for 4-6 minutes, or until tender and golden-brown. Remove and drain on kitchen paper.
• Meanwhile, grill the lobster thermidor for 3-4 minutes, or until the topping is crisp and golden-brown.
• Serve the lobster halves on plates with a pile of matchstick fries alongside.

LOBSTER NEWBURG

Steps:

• Fill a large stockpot 3/4 full with cold water. Set over high heat, and bring to a rolling boil. Prepare an ice bath. Add the lobsters to the pot, making sure that each lobster is completely submerged in water. Cook lobsters about 8 minutes. Using tongs, transfer lobsters to ice bath to cool. Drain lobsters in a colander.
• Carefully remove lobster meat from the tails, claws, and legs, being careful to remove any cartilage from the claw meat. Cut the meat into bite-size pieces. Transfer meat to a bowl, cover with plastic, and refrigerate until ready to use. Discard lobster bodies, but reserve the shells from the tails, claws, and legs for making stock.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Add chopped onion and celery to pan. Coarsely chop 1 leek and 2 carrots; add to pan. Add reserved lobster shells, 4 sprigs tarragon, and enough water to cover shells by 3 inches.
• Bring liquid to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, skimming surface often, until the stock is flavorful, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Prepare an ice bath. Strain stock through a fine sieve, pushing down on solids to extract liquid. Transfer stock to a clean saucepan, and discard solids. Continue cooking stock until liquid has reduced to 2 cups. Remove from heat, and transfer to ice bath to chill. Transfer chilled stock to an airtight container; refrigerate until ready to use.
• Split the remaining leek lengthwise. Cut the leek and remaining 2 carrots into 1/2-inch pieces; set aside.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan set over medium-low heat. Sprinkle flour into saucepan, and cook, stirring constantly, so mixture foams and forms a paste but does not turn brown, about 2 minutes.
• Carefully add sherry, stirring constantly to loosen any flour that has cooked onto the bottom of saucepan, being careful that no lumps form. Add tomato paste and 2 cups reserved lobster stock. Add the chopped leek and carrot to the saucepan, and cook until just tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in cream, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until sauce just starts to thicken, 5 to 6 minutes. Add salt and pepper. Pick tarragon from remaining 4 sprigs, chop, and add.
• In a small bowl, whisk egg yolk. Add a ladleful of hot sauce to temper the yolk; whisk to combine. Return mixture to saucepan over low heat; whisk to combine. Remove from heat.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Fill a large roasting pan with 1 inch boiling water; set 6 six-ounce ramekins into a large roasting pan.
• Add the reserved lobster meat to the sauce; stir to combine. Divide the Newburg evenly among the ramekins. Transfer the roasting pan to oven, and cook until the Newburg bubbles, about 25 minutes. Remove roasting pan from the oven, and carefully transfer ramekins to serving plates. Serve.