Lobster Pot Food

LOBSTER BOIL

Steps:

• In the bottom of a steamer pot, put 4 cups water and 2 tablespoons salt. In the top portion of the pot, place the onions, fennel, potatoes and garlic. Pour the beer over the vegetables and add the sausage and 5 of the thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-high. Cover and steam for 15 minutes.
• Then create layers, first by adding the corn, then the lobsters, followed by the clams and, finally, the remaining thyme sprigs. Cover and cook until the lobsters are bright red, the clams are open and the potatoes are cooked through, another 15 to 25 minutes.
• Drain the liquid from the pot and reserve it in a bowl. Transfer the shellfish, sausage, potatoes, vegetables and corn onto a table covered with newspaper. Enjoy with melted butter, lemon wedges, crusty bread and the reserved broth.

LEW'S FAMOUS LOBSTER POT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Bring water and crab boil bag to a boil in a large saucepan.
• Stir in lobster tails and boil until they turn bright red and the meat becomes opaque, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Drain and cool lobster tails. Remove shells, and dice lobster meat. Transfer to a bowl.
• Place a pie crust into the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan and set aside.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat.
• Cook and stir onion and celery in butter until tender, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Stir flour into onion and celery mixture until vegetables are coated with flour.
• Combine chicken broth and milk in a bowl.
• Slowly stir broth and milk into onion, celery, and flour mixture until thickened.
• Stir seafood seasoning, garlic powder, and ground black pepper into thickened sauce.
• Mix thawed vegetables, diced potato, and cooked lobster meat into the sauce; simmer until potato is tender, about 8 minutes.
• Pour lobster filling into the prepared pie crust.
• Cover with remaining pie crust ,and seal by crimping the edges of the two crusts together.
• Cut an 'X' into top of pie crust with a sharp knife to allow steam to escape during baking.
• Bake pie in the preheated oven until crust is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes to allow sauce to thicken.

LOBSTER POT PIE

Steps:

• Divide the lobster meat into four shallow 8-ounce ramekins or gratin dishes, or place in a 1 1/2-quart shallow baking dish.
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking, until bubbly, about 1 minute. Add the cream and sherry, bring just to the boil, and cook, whisking, until the mixture is thick and bubbly. Season with the paprika and with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the sauce over the lobster in the dishes. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
• For the topping, toss the cracker crumbs with the melted butter and paprika until well mixed. (The pies and topping can be made up to several hours ahead to this point and refrigerated.)
• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the lobster mixture. Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until the sauce is bubbly and the crumbs are deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes for ramekins, 15 to 20 minutes for a large baking dish.

LOBSTER POT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Fill a large saucepan with lightly salted water and bring it to a boil. Add the lobster meat, reduce the heat to low, and cook 10 minutes until the meat is opaque. Drain and set aside to cool.
• Place 4 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan and place it over medium heat. Allow the butter to melt and add the onion, carrots, and tarragon. Stir to coat, lower the heat, and let cook for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the peas in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• Meanwhile, place the diced potatoes in a small saucepan and cover with water. Add a little salt and place over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and let simmer until the potatoes are fork tender (about 15 minutes). Drain the potatoes and add them to the vegetable mix. Chop the lobster meat and add to the veggie mix as well. Set aside.
• For the bechamel:
• Place the milk in a medium saucepan along with the bay leaves and white pepper and scald (which means heat it but don't let it boil!) Add the lobster base and whisk to incorporate. Melt the butter over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Whisk the flour in and cook for 1 minute. Add the wine and whisk until the mixture thickens. Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly, until the bechamel is thick and creamy. Remove bay leaves. Add the bechamel to the lobster mixture and stir well.
• For the crust:
• Place the flour in the bowl of a food processor along with the salt. Add the butter bits and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour into a bowl and add the ice water a little at a time, stirring well with a fork. Transfer the dough to a well floured surface and knead just until it all comes together (don't work the dough too much or it'll get tough). Divide the dough in half and flatten each ball into a disk. Wrap each disk in film and refrigerate for 1/2 hour. Remove from the refrigerator and roll each disk out on a lightly floured surface until it is about 12 inches in diameter. Line a 9-inch pie plate with the first disk, ladle the lobster mix into the crust and brush the edges of the dough with the egg wash. Top with the second disk. Trim the excess dough and crimp decoratively. Cut vent holes in the dough and brush the top with the egg wash. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the crust is a golden brown. Remove from heat and let cool for 20 minutes before cutting and serving.

LOBSTER POT PIE

Steps:

• Saute the onions and fennel with the butter in a large saute pan on medium heat until the onions are translucent, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the flour and cook on low heat for 3 more minutes, stirring occasionally. Slowly add the stock, Pernod, salt, and pepper and simmer for 5 more minutes. Add the heavy cream.
• Cut the lobster meat into medium-sized cubes. Place the lobster, frozen peas, frozen onions, and parsley in a bowl (there is no need to defrost the vegetables). Pour the sauce over the mixture and check the seasonings. Set aside.
• For the crust, mix the flour, salt, and baking powder in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add the lard and butter and pulse 10 times, until the fat is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the ice water; process only enough to moisten the dough and have it just come together. Dump the dough out on a floured surface and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow it to rest for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Divide the dough in half and roll out each half to fit a 9 or 9 1/2-inch round by 2-inch high ovenproof glass or ceramic baking dish. Place 1 crust in the dish, fill with the lobster mixture, and top with the second crust. Crimp the crusts together and brush with the egg wash. Make 4 or 5 slashes in the top crust and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling hot.

LOBSTER POT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Slice top off loaf of bread.
• Scoop out inside of bread, leaving a 1" shell.
• Reserve bread and cut into cubes for dipping, wrap in plastic wrap until ready to use.
• Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, worcestershire sauce, tabasco sauce, and garlic with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
• Stir in grated cheddar cheese, green onion, and lobster.
• Add salt and pepper to taste and blend well.
• Fill bread shell with the lobster mixture and place top on bread loaf.
• Wrap completely in tin foil and place on cookie sheet.
• Bake for about 1 hour until thoroughly heated.
• Serve with bread cubes, crackers or fresh veggies for dipping.

MINI LOBSTER POT PIES

Steps:

• Cut lobster shell down the middle, crack it open, and pull out the meat. Cut the shell into 1-inch pieces and set aside.
• Cut the meat into ½-inch pieces, checking carefully and removing any veins or missed pieces of shell. Transfer the meat to a plate and keep in the refrigerator until needed.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add lobster shells and cook, stirring often, until they turn brick red, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in sherry and clam juice and reduce heat to low. Simmer gently to steep lobster shells, 15 to 20 minutes; making sure the liquid does not reduce.
• Remove from the heat and pour broth through a strainer to remove shells.
• Rinse out the saucepan and add remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Place over medium heat to melt. Add carrots, celery, paprika, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Cook and stir until tomato paste is toasted and paprika is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in lobster broth and bring to a simmer.
• Add potatoes and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook at a gentle simmer until potatoes are tender and liquid has reduced just slightly, 10 to 15 minutes.
• While the potatoes are cooking, place puff pastry on a piece of parchment paper. Cut out two 3 ½-inch circles and cut an "x" in the center of each one. Brush tops with beaten egg. Transfer to a baking sheet and place in the refrigerator until needed.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Add lemon juice, cream, and tarragon to the potatoes; stir to combine and return to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until reduced and thickened a bit more, about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust salt if necessary.
• Stir in reserved lobster meat and turn off the heat. Remove from the stove and evenly divide the mixture between two 6-ounce ramekins, stopping about ¼ inch from the top.
• With the egg wash facing up, place puff pastry circles onto the ramekins, making sure the vents are cut all the way through.
• Bake in the upper center of the preheated oven until bubbly and browned, about 20 minutes. Let rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.