Herb Grilled Spiny Pacific Lobster Food

WHOLE GRILLED PACIFIC SPINY LOBSTER WITH MANGO PAPAYA SALSA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Plunge the lobsters into the boiling water, cook for 8 minutes. Remove carefully and submerge in a bowl of ice water to immediately stop the cooking. Split the lobsters in half lengthwise and rinse out the head cavity and any veins that may be in the tail. Set aside.
• Toss the papayas, mangos and tomatoes in a mixing bowl with the lime juice and cayenne and salt, to taste. Allow to sit for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat.
• When ready to serve, brush a small amount of oil on the lobster meat and place the lobsters meat side down on the hot grill. Grill until lobster meat is lightly charred, about 4 minutes. Turn and cook the shell side until lobster is heated through, about 3 minutes more. Remove the lobster meat from the shell. Add the mint to salsa, mix, and put on serving plates. Serve the lobster meat on top of the salsa.

GRILLED LOBSTER TAILS WITH HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat your grill to direct medium-high heat.
• In a small bowl blend butter, chives, tarragon, minced garlic, hot sauce, and black pepper with a rubber spatula. Blend thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap and reserve.
• Using kitchen shears, butterfly the lobster tails straight down the middle of the softer underside of the shell. Cut the meat down the center without cutting all the way through. Insert a metal skewer down the lobster tail so the tail stands straight. Brush the tails with olive oil and season with salt, to taste.
• Grill lobsters cut side down over medium high heat about 5 minutes, until the shells are bright in color. Turn the tails over and spoon a generous tablespoon of herbed butter onto the butterflied meat. Grill for another 4 minutes, or until the lobster meat is an opaque white color.
• Remove lobster tails from the grill and serve with more herb butter and lemon wedges. Garnish with chive sprigs.

BARBECUED CALIFORNIA SPINY LOBSTER

Steps:

• Submerge live lobsters in boiling water for 2 minutes. Remove from water. When cool enough to handle, remove heads from tails. With large knife, cut tails in half lengthwise. Place cut tails in large mixing bowl and toss with garlic, onion, thyme, olive oil and vinegar. Let marinate at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
• Preheat a charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Once fire is hot, scatter fruit wood on top and allow to burn. As soon as the wood has turned to coal, place lobster tail halves on grill, meat side down. Cook until shell turns a lighter shade of red, about 3 to 5 minutes. Turn lobster tails and cook for an additional 3 minutes or until the meat begins to pull away from the shell. Remove lobsters from grill. Place on platter and pour remaining marinade from bowl over finished tails.

GRILLED CRAYFISH (OR SPINY LOBSTER) WITH DRESSINGS

Steps:

• Regardless on the size of your crayfish, they are best cooked whole. This way the carapace acts like an oven itself, whereby the shell heats up and bakes the flesh inside.
• However, if you are cooking a fairly large crayfish it's advisable to split it down the back with a sharp heavy knife. This will help it to cook quicker and make it more manageable to serve once it's cooked.
• I love cooking it on a barbecue, but it can be cooked just as well at home under a domestic grill, if split in half. Cooking times will vary, but a whole crayfish of around 1 to 1 3/4 pounds will take about 15 to 20 minutes above a hot barbecue, turning it around to cook through evenly. If the crayfish is halved, it will take between 10 to 15 minutes. A large crayfish, around 2 pounds, will take 25 to 35 minutes and if split, about 15 minutes.
• Serve grilled crayfish very simply with a little olive oil and lemon juice, or melted butter. However, the following dressings add a little oomph to this delicious meat.
• Place all of the above in a blender and puree to a thick dressing. Taste for seasoning, then let rest for at least 30 minutes before serving.
• Heat the butter in a small pan, when it?s bubbling add the onion and chile and cook over a moderate heat until the onion just begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Take it off the heat, stir in the juice, cilantro, and salt. Serve immediately.

GRILLED SPINY LOBSTER WITH LUMP CRAB CEVICHE

Steps:

• For ceviche, combine all ingredients and refrigerate for 2 hours. For marinade, combine all ingredients except lobster. Brush on lobster 30 minutes prior to grilling. For cilantro lime sauce, puree in blender all ingredients but olive oil and salt and pepper. When ingredients are combined slowly add olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. To assemble, stack 2 lobster tails, top with mound of ceviche and drizzle sauce around dish and plate. Garnish with fresh cilantro and chives.

SPINY LOBSTER WITH SANTA BARBARA CHANTERELLES AND LEMON PANCETTA RIESLING SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling water, blanch lobsters for 2 minutes, then shock in ice water. Once the lobster is chilled, remove the tail from the head and split the tail in half. Remove the meat and discard the shell. Season the lobster meat with the salt and pepper and set aside.
• In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook pancetta in olive oil. Once the pancetta begins to brown, add the seasoned lobster meat. Sear the lobster on all sides, then reduce heat and cook until the lobster is slightly underdone, about 2 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the lobster from the pan and add the chanterelles. Saute the chanterelles lightly, then add the shallots. Deglaze with the Riesling and reduce to 2 tablespoons, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock and reduce to about 1/4 cup. Add the cream and bring to a boil, then finish with the butter, lemon juice to taste, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, place braised greens (if using) in the center of each plate. Place 2 lobster tail halves on top and dress the plate with the sauce. Serve with braised greens, if desired.