Best Florida Lobster Recipes

KEY WEST PINK SHRIMP AND FLORIDA SPINY LOBSTER TAILS SERVED WITH HOT KEY LIME BUTTER

Steps:

• Mix 1/2 cup of butter with hot pepper sauce and Key lime juice in a small bowl; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat; stir in shrimp and lobster tails. Cook and stir until shrimp just turn pink, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium and stir in the mushrooms, garlic, and white wine; continue to cook and stir until the mushrooms have released their liquid and are tender, about 5 more minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in the Key lime juice mixture until melted.

FLORIDA FRIED LOBSTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Sprinkle the butterflied lobster tails on both sides with some Cajun seasoning, then spread on both sides with some garlic butter. Spread the lobster flesh with the minced garlic; sprinkle more Cajun seasoning over the garlic layer. Top with more garlic butter.
• Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes (do not overcook).

FLORIDA CIOPPINO WITH GRILLED LOBSTER AND JALAPENO CHEESE GRITS

Steps:

• For the grits: Combine the 3 cups water, the milk, 1 tablespoon of the butter, the salt and pepper in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring the liquid to a gentle boil. Stir in the grits. Cook for 1 hour 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The grits will stick to the bottom of the pan, so make sure not to scrape the bottom of the pan. If the grits absorbed all of the water, add some hot water to thin out the grits. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the cheese and jalapeno peppers. The grits can either be served immediately or prepared in advance and reheated.
• For the lobster: Rub the lobster meat with the garlic, oil and butter and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Grill, body-side down at first, until cooked three-quarters of the way through; flip and grill meat-side down. Remove from the grill and squeeze over the lime juice.
• For the cioppino: Heat the olive oil in a saucepan until just about to the smoking point; quickly add the garlic, tomatoes and red pepper flakes. Saute until the garlic becomes translucent. Add the clams, cook for 2 minutes, then add the shrimp and the wine immediately after. Simmer until the shrimp and clams are halfway cooked, then add the butter, crab claws and knuckle meat and the lionfish. Cover and simmer until the fish is barely cooked through; season with salt and black pepper, and finish with the basil, parsley, mint and a spritz of fresh lemon juice.
• Reheat the grits, if needed, and place 2 cups grits into a large, deep platter. Arrange the cioppino around the grits, and garnish with the grilled lobster. Serve.

FLORIDA LOBSTER SALAD WITH AVOCADO, PAPAYA, AND JADE DRESSING

Steps:

• To cook the lobster tails, fill a medium pot three-quarters of the way with water. Add 1 tablespoon salt, the shallot, Old Bay, and bay leaf; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Carefully put the lobster tails into the boiling water and cook until the shells turn orange, 5 minutes. Using tongs, remove the tails from the pot and put them on a cutting board to cool.
• Turn the lobster tails with the underside (the soft shell side) facing up. With kitchen scissors, cut lengthwise down the center of the shell and pull out the meat. Cut the lobster meat into 1/2-inch chunks. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the watercress, avocado, and papaya. Drizzle with the dressing, tossing with your hands to dress the salad lightly and evenly. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the salad equally among 4 large chilled plates. Top with the pickled onions, lobster chunks, and nuts.
• Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Puree on high speed until thick and creamy and the color of jade, roughly 1 minute.

FLORIDA LOBSTER AND FRESH PAPPARDELLE WITH TOMATOES AND CHIVES

Steps:

• For the steamed lobster meat and lobster stock: Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water, and set it aside.
• In a 4- or 6-quart cast iron Dutch oven, or other heavy-bottomed pot with a tight-fitting lid, combine the tomatoes, 2 cups of the wine, the 1/2 cup of the water, sliced onions, peppercorns and tarragon. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for 15 minutes.
• Raise the heat back to high. Add the lobsters to the pot; cover the pot immediately with a heavy, tight-fitting lid. Steam the lobsters until they are bright red and you can pull out the long feelers on the head with no resistance, about 13 minutes. Using tongs, immediately plunge the lobsters into the bowl of ice water and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Remove the lobsters from the ice water and set on a rimmed baking sheet. Using kitchen shears, remove the lobster meat from the tails and claws. Use a knife to chop the meat into bite-size pieces. You should have about 1 pound of lobster meat, set aside.
• Rinse the lobster shells, including the heads, and place all the shells back into the pot with the lobster poaching liquid. Add 2 1/2 quarts of water and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 hour. Strain the lobster stock through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth. Transfer the stock to a clean saucepan and return to a simmer. Reduce the stock until you have about 6 cups remaining.
• For the pappardelle with lobster: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the papardelle and cook until al dente, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove 1/2 cup pasta cooking water from the pot and drain the pasta through a colander. Transfer the pasta to a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, cover and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the corn and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the shallots and cook, stirring, until soft and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the garlic and continue to cook and stir for another minute. Add the tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes have released most of their liquid, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute longer.
• Add the wine, 1/2 cup of the lobster stock and some of the pasta cooking liquid to the pan and continue cooking over medium heat until half of the liquid has evaporated. Add the lobster meat to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add the cooked papardelle and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the chives. Toss the pasta with the sauce and cook for 1 minute longer so it will heat through.
• Divide the pasta between 4 bowls, garnish with the chives and grated cheese and serve immediately.

FLORIDA LOBSTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400.
• Prepare lobster-split down back, not all the way through so can be butterflied.
• Place all other ingredients in bowl and blend. Spread mixture over tails.
• Cook about 12 minutes depending on size of tails.
• You can melt any leftover spread and serve for dipping.

FLORIDA LOBSTER AND SEA SCALLOP FRITTERS

Steps:

• For the pepper jelly: Mix together the apple jelly, green pepper, red pepper, jalapeno, parsley, onion and cilantro in a small bowl. Let set at least 1 hour to infuse the flavors.
• For the fritters: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss the lobster and scallops with the olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for 5 minutes to parcook. Chop the lobster and dice the scallops.
• Mix together the all-purpose flour, semolina flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the eggs, green onion, red onion, clam juice, beer, jalapeno, lobster and scallops and mix to combine. Let stand for 5 minutes
• Heat 1 inch of vegetable or canola oil in a frying pan over medium high to about 350 degrees F. Scoop the mixture in 1-tablespoon portions into the frying pan and cook until golden brown, being careful not to overcrowd the pan; carefully turn the fritters if necessary.
• Drain on paper towels and serve with the pepper jelly on the side.

FLORIDA LOBSTER TAILS, OR "BUGS"

Steps:

• 1. You will need something to steam the lobsters in I have a pot with a steamer insert in that I use for this
• 2. Before you cook the lobster tails, take a sharp knife and cut them to split the shells. Don't cut them in half, just cut them so eating them will be easier when they are cooked
• 3. Put everything in the water except the lobster tails. Bring the seasoned water to a simmering boil.
• 4. Put the lobster tails in the steamer basket, cover, and steam until they turn bright red, and flesh is translucent. this could take from 10 to 15 minutes depending on the size of the lobster.
• 5. Serve with melted butter.

PAN-SEARED FLORIDA POMPANO AND SPINY LOBSTER IN SQUAB CONSOMME, AND POACHED FOIE GRAS

Steps:

• In a large saute pan or skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Season the pompano with salt and white pepper. Place the fish, skin-side down, in the pan and sear for 2 minutes. Turn fish and cook 1 minute longer. Remove from heat.
• In a small saucepan warm approximately 1 cup of Squab Consomme over low heat, but do not allow to simmer. Add the foie gras and cook for about 4 minutes.
• In the bottom of four shallow bowls, arrange the celeriac chiffonade, black truffle, spring garlic, and lobster medallions, dividing evenly between the bowls. Top with the foie gras and fish. Pour the hot Squab Consomme over the top. Garnish with chervil and serve.
• Preheat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cut the squab carcass into small pieces and place in the saucepan. Stir occasionally until the bones are dark brown. Add the carrots, onion, and celeriac. Cook and stir until the onions are translucent. Add the chicken stock, white peppercorns, thyme and rosemary. Bring to a very light simmer, lower heat to medium, and allow to cook for 2 hours. Drain, cool, and reserve stock.
• In a food processor, pulse the reserved squab breast and leg meat until fine.
• In a large mixing bowl, place the squab meat, egg whites, lemon grass, star anise, sherry vinegar, beets, carrots, onion, and celeriac. Mix in the cooled Squab Stock and place mixture in a narrow, high-sided stockpot over medium heat. Stirring constantly, continue cooking while continuously scraping the bottom of the pot to avoid sticking. When the raft begins to form, stop stirring and monitor the heat closely. Do not allow the liquid to boil. When the consomme begins to simmer through the raft, continue cooking for approximately 30 minutes.
• Using a small ladle, gently make a hole in the raft where the consomme can pool, then ladle the pooled consomme into a fine strainer lined with cheesecloth. Set aside for service.