Boiled Lobster with Lobster Essence Mayonnaise

Boiled Lobster with Lobster Essence Mayonnaise

A sophisticated preparation featuring tender, perfectly boiled lobster served alongside a rich, silken homemade mayonnaise infused with the roasted shells and essence of the lobster itself.

2h 30mAdvanced2 servings
Remix

Equipment

large stockpot
chef's knife
ice bath setup
kitchen shears
heavy saucepan
fine mesh sieve
cheesecloth*
mixing bowl
whisk
instant-read thermometer

* optional

Ingredients

2 servings

Lobster Preparation

  • 2 live lobsters
  • 4000 ml water
  • 120 g sea salt
  • 50 ml white vinegar

Lobster Essence Oil

  • 300 ml grapeseed oil
  • 15 g tomato paste
  • 30 ml cognac

Lobster Mayonnaise

  • 2 egg yolk, room temperature
  • 10 g dijon mustard
  • 15 ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 3 g sea salt
  • 1 g white pepper, finely ground

Nutrition (per serving)

Nutrition is estimated per serving. Nutrients without complete source data are omitted.

1816
Calories
102g
Protein
3g
Carbohydrates
150g
Fat
1g
Fiber
1g
Sugar
3189mg
Sodium
Full nutrition
Calories
1816 kcal
Protein
102 g
Carbohydrates
3 g
Fat
150 g
Fiber
1 g
Sugar
1 g
Sodium
3189 mg
Saturated Fat
17 g
Trans Fat
0 g
Monounsaturated Fat
4 g
Polyunsaturated Fat
3 g
Cholesterol
956 mg
Potassium
1311 mg
Calcium
535 mg
Iron
2.4 mg
Magnesium
235 mg
Phosphorus
1049 mg
Zinc
21.7 mg
Vitamin A
81 mcg
Vitamin C
5 mg
Vitamin D
1.0 mcg
Vitamin E
5.7 mg
Vitamin K
0 mcg
Vitamin B6
0.7 mg
Vitamin B12
7.8 mcg
Thiamin
0.16 mg
Riboflavin
0.16 mg
Niacin
9.6 mg
Folate
88 mcg
Water
512 g

Sources: Aggregated Public Data, USDA FoodData Central

Method

01

Bring water, sea salt, and white vinegar to a rolling boil in a large stockpot. Humanely dispatch the live lobsters immediately before cooking by piercing the back of the head swiftly with a heavy chef's knife.

02

Plunge the dispatched lobsters headfirst into the boiling water. Boil for exactly 7 minutes for 600g lobsters. The shell should turn bright red, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the tail should register an internal temperature of 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

7mLook for: bright red shellFeel: firm tail meat
03

Using tongs, immediately transfer the lobsters to an ice bath setup to halt the cooking process. Allow them to cool for 5 minutes.

5m
04

Remove the lobsters from the ice bath. Separate the tails, claws, and knuckles from the carapace. Carefully extract the meat using kitchen shears, keeping it as intact as possible. Reserve the meat in the refrigerator. Save all the shells and heads.

05

Using the kitchen shears or chef's knife, chop the reserved lobster shells into small, 2-centimeter pieces. Discard the feathery gills and the sand sac located near the head.

06

Heat a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped shells and dry roast them until deeply red, fragrant, and slightly charred at the edges, about 5 minutes.

5m
07

Stir the tomato paste into the shells and cook for 1 minute to caramelize. Deglaze the pan with cognac, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.

1m
08

Pour the grapeseed oil over the shells. Bring the oil to a gentle simmer at 85 degrees Celsius or 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintain this temperature for 15 minutes, then remove from heat. Allow the mixture to steep for 45 minutes.

1h
09

Strain the infused oil through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a clean container. Discard the shells. Allow the vibrant red lobster oil to cool completely to room temperature.

10

In a clean mixing bowl, combine the room-temperature egg yolks, dijon mustard, lemon juice, sea salt, and white pepper. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth and slightly pale.

11

While whisking continuously, slowly add the cooled lobster oil drop by drop to form a stable emulsion. Once an emulsion forms, gradually increase the flow to a thin, steady stream until all the oil is incorporated and the mayonnaise is thick and glossy.

Look for: thick, glossy, bright coral colored mayonnaise
12

Slice the chilled lobster tails into elegant medallions. Arrange the meat artfully on cold plates alongside whole claw meat. Serve the lobster mayonnaise in a small ramekin alongside the dish, or pipe neat dots around the plate for a modern presentation.

Chef's Notes

  • Using grapeseed oil for the essence extraction ensures the delicate, sweet lobster flavor is not overpowered by the oil base, which is a common issue when substituting with strong extra virgin olive oil.
  • Roasting the shells thoroughly before adding oil is critical. The Maillard reaction acting on the residual proteins in the shells creates the signature deep, roasted crustacean profile.
  • Always wash your equipment meticulously after handling raw meat or shells to prevent cross-contamination. Dispatching the lobster just moments before plunging it into boiling water ensures peak freshness and texture.
  • For a visually stunning presentation, try dusting the finished plate with a tiny pinch of espelette pepper or pulverized dried lobster roe.

Storage

Refrigerator: 1 dayMayonnaise can be stored for up to 3 days, but lobster meat is highly perishable and best consumed within 24 hours.

Troubleshooting

Mayonnaise breaks or curdles during mixing

Cause: Oil was added too quickly or the lobster oil was still warm

Fix: Whisk a fresh egg yolk with a teaspoon of water in a clean bowl, then slowly whisk the broken mixture into the new yolk until completely emulsified

Prevention: Ensure the infused oil has completely cooled to room temperature and begin incorporating it drop by drop

Lobster meat is tough and rubbery

Cause: The lobster was left in boiling water for too long or not shocked quickly enough in the ice bath

Fix: Cannot be fixed

Prevention: Strictly adhere to the 7-minute boiling time and plunge immediately into ice water to halt residual cooking

Cultural Context

Homard a la Parisienne is a hallmark of historic French haute cuisine, traditionally presenting cooked lobster accompanied by an intricate mayonnaise-based dressing. This modern interpretation deconstructs the classic dish, extracting maximum flavor from the traditionally discarded shells to elevate the accompanying sauce into a pure essence of the sea.

More Like This

Find your next meal

Dinner2,315Dessert753Side Dish505Appetizer476Soup368Salad367Condiment171Breakfast155Baked Good136Sauce122Lunch113Main Course76Base71Brunch61Bread57Snack51Beverage36Preserve32Confection23Hot Drink3Stew2Smoothie2Main Dish1Main1Sandwich1