Lobster with curry sauce-bon appetit

4 appetizers

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
2(1 3/4 lb) whole live lobsters
4tablespoons(1/2 stick) butter
1cupChopped onion
1½tablespoonCurry powder
1tablespoonChopped garlic
1tablespoonTomato paste
¼cupCalvados or other apple brandy
1cupDry white wine
3Fresh thyme sprigs OR
1teaspoonDried thyme
3Fresh parsley sprigs
1Bay leaf
2½tablespoonAll purpose flour

Directions

Bring large pot of water to boil. Add lobsters; cover and boil 9 minutes. Using tongs, transfer lobsters to large bowl of cole water.

Reserve 4 cups cooking liquid. Drain lobsters. Working over bowl to collect juices, remove claws and tails. Cut tail meat through shells into ½ inch wide medallions. Remove shells. Crack claws; carefully remove meat. Reserve large pieces, reserving all juices and shells.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat.

Add onion, curry and garlic, saute 2 minutes. Stir in tomato juices.

Boil mixture 2 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, then Calvados and reserved shells and juices. Boil mixture 2 minutes. Add reserved 4 cups lobster cooking liquid, wine, thyme, parsley and bay leaf; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until sauce is reduced to 1⅔ cups, about 45 minutes. Strain into medium skillet, discarding solids.

(Can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Cover; shill lobster and sauce.) Mix 2 tablespoons butter and flour in small bowl. Bring sauce to simmer. Whisk in butter mixture; boil 2 minutes, whisking constantly.

Season with salt and pepper.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in another heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add lobster medallions and claw meat. Saute just until heated through, about 1 minute. Divide sauce among 4 plates. Arrange medallions and claw meat atop sauce and serve.

This will make either 4 appetizer servings or 2 main course servings.

From the Brittany region of France. Bon Appetit/May 94 Typed by Didi Pahl