LOBSTER à L'ARMORICAINE

Lobster à l'Armoricaine image

Provided by Daniel J. Wakin

Time 1h45m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

3 lobsters, about 3 pounds each
1/2 cup olive oil
6 tablespoons butter
6 shallots, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups dry white wine
1 cup fish fumet or clam broth
1 cup Cognac
6 medium tomatoes, peeled, cored and diced
1/2 cup passata, tomato purée or tomato sauce
2 whole sprigs plus 1 teaspoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
Salt and black pepper
Finely chopped chervil and tarragon, for garnish

Steps:

Prepare the lobsters by placing the blade of a sharp, heavy knife or cleaver crosswise against the back of the head, and using a kitchen mallet to strike the top of the blade, driving it down. Remove the claws and knuckles, separate them, and crack them with the mallet. Twist tails from the bodies. Cut each tail crosswise into four pieces, and set aside. Cut each lobster body in half lengthwise; remove and reserve the greenish-gray tomalley and any roe. Rinse the bodies under cool water and set aside.
Place a large casserole or other wide, deep pan over medium heat. Add the oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the pieces of lobster tail and the knuckles, and stir until the shells are red, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a large plate. Add the claws and lobster bodies, and stir again until red, about 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to the plate and allow to cool.
Remove the lobster meat from the claws, knuckles and tail pieces, and set aside. In a cup combine 2 tablespoons of butter with the reserved tomalley or roe, and mash to a paste; set aside.
Drain the butter and oil from the pan and return the pan to medium heat. Return the lobster bodies to the pan. Add the shallots, garlic and cayenne pepper. Pour in the wine, fish fumet or clam broth, and Cognac. Add tomatoes, passata or tomato purée or sauce, and the whole sprigs of parsley. Add the reserved butter-tomalley paste. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
Warm a serving dish. Pour the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean saucepan, discarding shells and solids. Return sauce to high heat and boil until reduced by two-thirds. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add reserved lobster meat to the sauce and heat just until thoroughly hot.
Remove pan from heat. Arrange the pieces of lobster meat in the serving dish. Stir the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, bit by bit, into the sauce. Pour the sauce over the lobster, and garnish with the finely chopped parsley, chervil and tarragon. If desired, serve with rice.