Champagne Lobster Recipes

Steps:

• Fill a very large (18- to 20-quart) stockpot 3/4 full with water, add 2 tablespoons of salt, cover and bring to a full rolling boil. Immerse the lobsters in the water and cook for 10 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the underside of a tail registers 140 degrees F. (Don't worry if the water doesn't come back to a boil.) Remove the lobsters with tongs and set aside until cool enough to handle. Remove the lobster meat from the shell, including the claws.

Steps:

• Crepes: In a medium bowl, mix together all of the crepes ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours, or overnight.
• To a small, non-stick pan (crepe pan), coat with butter and put over medium heat. Pour about 2 ounces of batter in the pan and lift the pan off the heat, tilting in a circular motion until the batter forms a nice and even thin layer. Cook until top is firm and bottom has set. Turn the crepe over and cook until firm. Remove the crepe and begin a new one. Repeat with all of the remaining batter. Lobster Champagne Sauce: Sweat the onions, carrots, celery, shallots, and garlic in a medium saucepan with clarified butter for about 5 minutes. Add the white wine and reduce by half. Then, add the lobster base and water and let simmer for about 5 minutes longer. Strain the mixture and put back in saucepot. Add the heavy cream and cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Add the champagne and cook for 2 minutes. Incorporate the roux and bring back to a simmer to thicken. Season with white pepper, to taste.
• Filling: In a medium saute pan, add the clarified butter. Add the seafood and let the shrimp cook through, about 3 minutes. Add the champagne and reduce for 1 minute. Add the lobster champagne sauce and let cook for another 2 minutes. Fold in the diced tomatoes and scallions and season with salt and pepper. Mixture is ready to serve.
• Take 2 crepes and fill with some of the mixture and roll the crepes. Place in a shallow gratin dish. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Add the remaining sauce and seafood on top of the crepes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in small saucepan. Brush gyoza on both sides with butter. Arrange on baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 8 minutes. Cool; wrap crisps airtight.
• Cook lobster in large pot of boiling salted water until just cooked through, about 8 minutes. Transfer lobster to large bowl. Let stand 15 minutes. Working over bowl to catch juices, twist lobster tails and claws from body. Crack shells and carefully remove lobster meat. Cover and refrigerate lobster meat.
• Place all lobster shells and juices in large saucepan. Add Champagne, 2 cups water, shallots and tomato paste. Simmer until liquid is reduced to 1 cup, about 1 hour. Strain liquid; return to same pan. Add cream; simmer until sauce is reduced to 1/3 cup, about 6 minutes. (Crisps, lobster and sauce can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store crisps at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate sauce.)
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add fennel and carrots; sauté 3 minutes. Add leek and sauté until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Cut lobster tail crosswise into 8 medallions. Add all lobster to skillet. Cover; cook just until heated through, about 2 minutes. Mix in 2 teaspoons dill. Season with salt and pepper.
• Rewarm sauce over low heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons butter and 2 teaspoons dill. Season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange crisps, lobster, and vegetable mixture on 2 plates. Spoon sauce over.

Steps:

• To make the sauce, pour the champagne into a medium saucepan and add the parsley, thyme, bay leaf and shallots; cook over medium heat until just 1 cup of liquid remains, about 25-30 minutes.
• Strain the liquid and discard the herbs, slowly whisk in the butter, one tablespoon at a time, over low heat.
• When all the butter has been added, season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
• Keep the mixture warm while preparing the lobsters.
• In a large pot, bring to a boil enough salted water to cover the lobsters.
• Remove the rubber bands that hold the claws shut.
• Plunge the lobsters into the water, head first.
• Cover and bring the water back to a boil; cook the lobsters for 10-12 minutes from the time the water returns to a boil.
• Serve lobster with champagne dipping sauce in individual bowls.