Classic Lobster Salad Food

LOBSTER SALAD IN ENDIVE

Steps:

• Combine the lobster, mayonnaise, celery, capers, dill, salt, and pepper. With a sharp knife, cut off the base of the endive and separate the leaves. Use a teaspoon to fill the end of each endive leaf with lobster salad. Arrange on a platter and serve.

LOBSTER COBB SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the celery, onion, thyme, vinegar, and black pepper and boil for 10 minutes. Add the lobsters, cover, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until shells are bright red and lobster is cooked through. Remove the lobsters from the water and immediately shock in ice water to stop the cooking. Shell the tail and the claws and cut the meat into 1/2-inch chunks. Reserve.
• Cook the bacon until crisp. Drain on a paper towel lined plate and set aside.
• Separate the egg whites from the yolks. Pass each separately through a medium strainer or food mill. Reserve.
• Blanch the haricots verts in a small saucepan of salted boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and shock in ice water. Drain well and set aside.
• Peel avocados, discard seeds, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks. Place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Reserve.
• In a mixing bowl, add the romaine and season with salt and pepper. Add 1/3 cup of the dressing and toss. Divide into 4 serving plates. Arrange the toppings in strips on top of the salad mix, starting on 1 end with the bacon, haricots verts, egg yolk, lobster, egg white, tomato, and avocado. Sprinkle the cheese all over the top. Serve the remaining dressing on the side.
• Combine shallot, Dijon, and vinegars in a large bowl and whisk well. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the oils until it is incorporated into the dressing. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

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.

LOBSTER SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the lobster meat, yellow peppers, celery, onion, mayonnaise and pepper until evenly combined. Chill before serving.