Lobster Salad Rolls With Grapes Pine Nuts And Tarragon Recipes

THE WORLD-FAMOUS MAINE LOBSTER ROLL

Steps:

• Prepare the lobster salad.
• If using live lobsters, steam or boil them. Let cool at room temperature. Use a cleaver to crack and remove the meat from the claws, knuckles and tails. Remove the cartilage from the claws and the intestines from the tails of the cooked meat. Cut the meat into 1/2-inch dice. You may pick all the meat from the carcass and add it to the meat or freeze the carcass for soup or broth.
• Place the cucumber in a colander for at least 5 minutes to drain the excess liquid. Combine the lobster, cucumber mayonnaise, and tarragon. Add the scallions. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Preheat a large heavy skillet (12 to 14-inches) over medium-low heat (a black cast-iron pan is perfect). Lightly butter both sides of each bun. Place them in the pan and cook for about 2 minutes until golden brown. Turn the buns over and toast the other side. Or toast the buns under a broiler instead. When the buns are ready, stuff them with the chilled lobster salad. Place each roll on a small paper or china plate; garnish with pickles and potato chips. Serve at once.

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.

TARRAGON LOBSTER ROLL

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add lobsters head first to water and cook, covered, until shells are bright red and an antennae or leg pulls off easily, 8 to 10 minutes. Crack one open where the tail meets the body of the lobster. The flesh should be firm, white, and opaque. If it is still translucent, then the lobster needs more time to finish cooking. Drain lobsters head down in a colander to release excess liquid.
• When cool enough to handle, crack lobster shells and remove meat from tails, claws, and knuckles. Tear the meat by hand into 1-inch pieces and place in a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lemon, celery, tarragon, cayenne, pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Pour over lobster meat and gently stir until lobster is well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more mayonnaise if desired. Chill lobster mixture for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Spread cut sides of buns with butter. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and toast buns, buttered side down, until golden brown, about 2 minutes per bun. Fill each bun with lobster mixture and sprinkle with an extra dash cayenne, if desired. Serve immediately.

GRILLED LOBSTER SALAD WITH ORANGE TARRAGON DRESSING

Steps:

• Prepare dressing by whisking tarragon, juice and zest of 2 oranges, Dijon mustard and oil together in a medium bowl. Season dressing to taste with salt and white pepper.
• Set aside 1/4 cup of the dressing to use as a marinade for the lobster tails.
• Spoon some of the marinade onto the lobster meet through the spilt in the shells.
• Prepare grill for medium high heat. Place lobster on the grill split side up.
• Grill lobster tails for 8 minutes per side or until meat is opaque and can be easily pulled from the shells.
• On 4 serving plates place lettuce leaves as a bed for the salad.
• Remove the lobster meat from the shell and cut each tail in half lengthwise.
• Top lettuce leaves with lobster meat, avocado, tomato, bell pepper, onion and segments of the two remaining oranges.
• Drizzle each serving with dressing; pass additional dressing on the side.

TARRAGON LOBSTER SALAD

Steps:

• Plunge 2 live lobsters headfirst into an 8 quart pot of boiling salted water.
• Loosely cover pot and cook over moderately high heat for 9 minutes from the time they entered the water, then transfer with tongs to sink to cool.
• Return water to a boil and repeat with the next 2 lobsters.
• While the lobsters are cooking, combine shallot, lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoons salt in in a large bowl and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• When lobsters are cool, remove meat from lobster, discard tomalley, roe (if any) and shells.
• Cut meat into 1/2 inch pieces.
• Whisk mayonnaise, tarragon, and 1/4 teaspoons black pepper into shallot mixture.
• Add lobster meat to the mayo blend and toss gently to coat.
• If serving on hot dog buns, butter and grill or toast the buns if desired.
• Enjoy this simple and delicious rite of summer!