Lobster Beet Salad Food

LOBSTER CLAW SALAD WITH PEARS AND BEETS

Steps:

• Arrange beet slices around the edges of four plates, leaving the middle empty.In a bowl, beat the mustard and vinegar, then add the oil. Add the salt.In a separate bowl, combine the pears and salad greens with the dressing.Place in the centre of each plate.Decorate with a lobster claw and garnish with chives.

LOBSTER SALAD WITH RED BEETS PETAL AND CAVIAR VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Court bouillon: In a large pot bring water to a boil, and simmer all ingredients, except the vinegar for 10 minutes, then add the vinegar and let simmer for another 5 minutes. Yield: 3 quarts
• Cooking and cleaning the lobster: Bring the court bouillon to boil, and cook the lobsters (9 minutes for 1 1/2 pounds). Remove with a skimmer, and drain. When cold, put the lobster on its back, cut the tail in its center, pry open and remove the tail in 1 piece. Remove the vein. Slice 30 medallions and set aside. Break each claw under the joint and remove the flesh without breaking it. Flesh from the claws should remain whole.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit
• Cooking the Beets and the French String Beans: Wrap the beets (skin on) in aluminum foil so that the juice will not run-out. Cook them for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Let them cool down, remove the skin and cut 30 slices of 1/8-inch (5 slices per portion). With a round die cut 1 3/4 inches in diameter cut a nice round circle from each slice. (Keep the parings to make a salad with potatoes, touch of garlic and olive oil).
• Place on the fire a pot of water to boil with a pinch of Hawaiian salt. Clean the string beans and place them in the boiling water and cook them quickly (if they cook too slowly they will turn yellow). They should be cooked in 3 to 4 minutes depending on quality and size. When you bite them they should be soft. Once cooked place them quickly in iced water so they keep their color. Drain and cut them into sections 1 1/2-inchs long, 6 pieces per portion. Set aside.
• Caviar Vinaigrette: Mix the olive oil with balsamic vinegar. Add the 3/4-ounce caviar and the chervil. Mix but do not add salt (there is enough salt in the caviar). Add a touch of pepper.
• On the top of the plate, place a bouquet of salad. At the bottom forming half a circle, place 5 petals of red beets. On the inside place 5 medallions of lobster on top of the petals. A lobster claw goes on top of the bouquet of lettuce, topped with a quenelle of caviar and a sprig of chervil. On the left a bunch of string beans and on the right a tomato rose. Coat the lobster medallions with caviar vinaigrette.

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.