Tarragon Lobster Salad Food

LOBSTER SALAD ROLLS WITH GRAPES, PINE NUTS AND TARRAGON

Steps:

• In large bowl combine lobster, grapes, celery, parsley and pine nuts. Prepare the dressing in a small bowl by whisking together the shallots, vinegar, lemon juice, tarragon, olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour over the lobster mixture and gently toss to combine. Line the rolls with lettuce and fill with lobster salad.
• *Large shrimp may be substituted.
• Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories 375; Protein 28 g; Carbohydrate 31 g; Fat 16 g; 38% Calories from Fat; Cholesterol 78 mg; Sodium 778 mg; Fiber 2.4 g.

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.

CORN, TOMATO, AND LOBSTER SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water, and set it aside.
• In a 4- to 6-quart Dutch oven, or other heavy-bottomed pot with a tight-fitting lid, combine the chopped tomatoes, wine, water, onions, peppercorns, and tarragon sprigs. Bring to a boil over high heat, uncovered; then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
• Raise the heat to high, add the lobster to the pot, and cover the pot immediately with a heavy, tightfitting lid. Steam the lobster for 13 minutes, until it is bright red and the long feelers are easily removed from their sockets. Immediately plunge the lobster into the bowl of ice water, and let it cool for 5 minutes.
• Remove the lobster from the ice water and set it on a rimmed baking sheet. Using kitchen shears, remove the lobster meat from the tail and claws. Use a knife to chop the lobster meat into bite- size pieces. You should have about 1 cup; set it aside.
• In a medium non-reactive mixing bowl, combine the shallot, vinegar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Whisk in the 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the cayenne. Add the corn kernels and mix together. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Cut the tiniest heirloom tomatoes in half, and quarter the larger ones. Add the tomatoes to the corn mixture. Add the lobster, tarragon, and parsley, and mix gently to combine.
• In a medium bowl, gently mix the Bibb lettuce leaves with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, and season them lightly with salt and black pepper. Stack 2 lettuce leaves on each of four plates. Divide the lobster salad evenly among the lettuce cups, and serve immediately.

BAKED LOBSTERS WITH TARRAGON-CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
• Remove and discard the rubber or wood claw holders from lobsters.
• Bring the water to a vigorous boil in a large kettle and drop the lobsters into it. When the water returns to the boil cook the lobsters for exactly 2 minutes and drain. Arrange the lobsters shell side up in one layer in a baking pan. Place in the oven and bake exactly 12 minutes.
• Break off the lobsters' claws. Crack the claws in several places. Place the lobster carcasses shell side down on a flat surface and crack each lengthwise to cut them in half. Pull away and discard the tough sac at the beak end of each lobster. Scoop out the soft mass (the tomalley, coral, liver and so on) from the inside of each lobster. Spoon and scrape this into a saucepan. Save any juices and add these to the saucepan.
• Add the shallots to the saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring.
• Arrange the lobster halves shell side down in one layer on a baking pan. Pull and discard the upper half of each claw shell. Add the remaining claws to the baking pan.
• Add the cream to the mixture in the saucepan. Add salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Add the lemon juice. Cook about 2 minutes.
• Line a saucepan with a sieve and pour the mixture into the sieve. Rub with a rubber spatula to extract as much liquid as possible. There should be about 1 cup. Discard the solids.
• Put the sauce on the stove and bring to the simmer. Swirl in the butter and tarragon.
• Spoon the sauce over the cut portions of each lobster and serve.

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!

WARM BUTTER-POACHED LOBSTER SALAD WITH TARRAGON-CITRUS DRESSING

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 2 tablespoons salt and the vinegar. Plunge lobster head-first into water; cook 3 minutes (meat will not be fully cooked). Transfer lobster to a cutting board.
• Using a kitchen towel to protect your hands, twist off tail and claws; discard body. Twist fan off end of tail, and push meat out of shell. Alternatively, use kitchen shears to cut up length of tail, and pull shell away from meat. Cut tail meat in half lengthwise, and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels; set aside. Separate claws from knuckles; twist and pull off pincers, being careful to keep meat intact. With back of knife, crack knuckle end of claw to loosen shell. Gently remove whole piece of meat; set aside with tail. Using your finger or the handle of a spoon, push knuckle meat out of shell. Wipe any white residue off meat. Meat can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 hours ahead; bring to room temperature before poaching.
• Remove peel and pith from tangelo using a sharp knife. Working over a bowl, carve out flesh between membranes, allowing segments to drop into bowl. Squeeze juice from membranes into bowl. Transfer juice in bowl to a separate bowl; reserve juice for dressing.
• Put 1/3 cup juice into a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and whisk in butter, 1 piece at a time, until smooth. Add a pinch of salt and the tarragon sprig. Submerge lobster meat in the butter sauce. Poach until opaque and cooked through, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.
• Whisk 3 tablespoons warm poaching liquid into 2 tablespoons reserved juice in bowl; whisk in pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add lobster to dressing; toss gently to coat. Just before serving, add tangelo segments and tarragon leaves; toss gently to combine. Season with salt.
• Arrange 2 lettuce leaves on each serving plate. Place lobster and tangelo segments on top. Spoon dressing over top.

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.

LOBSTER AND GRILLED CORN PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Make the vinaigrette: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the vinegar, garlic, tarragon, mustard, salt and pepper. Continue to whisk while slowly drizzling in the olive oil in a steady stream until the vinaigrette is emulsified.
• Prepare the steamer basket: In a pot large enough to hold the lobster tails in a single layer, add 1 to 2 inches of water so that a steamer basket isn't submerged. Add about 1 tablespoon of salt to the water. Place the steamer basket into the pot. If you don't have a steamer basket, loosely scrunch some foil into balls and place them in the pot so they sit above the water level, giving the lobster tails a perch to rest on. Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil over high heat.
• Prepare the grill: Preheat the grill for high direct heat. You want it at 500°F.