PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND LOBSTER WITH MUSCAT BEAUMES-DE-VENISE SAUCE

Prince Edward Island Lobster With Muscat Beaumes-De-Venise Sauce image

The chef Wayne Nish shared this recipe with The New York Times in 1999 to accompany a story about baby cilantro. A bottle of Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise provides the base for this sauce. Mr. Nish said he liked to use baby cilantro "in places where fully grown cilantro would overwhelm everything else." For a flavor as delicate as lobster's, he said, "it adds a spike of brightness."

Provided by Marian Burros

Time 1h50m

Yield 6 large appetizers

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 large bottle Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise (750 milliliters)
1 5-inch piece thinly sliced ginger
5 shallots, halved
5 cloves garlic, halved
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 quart plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream (40 percent, if possible)
1 cup sea salt, plus extra to season
Juice of 1/2 lime, or to taste
3 lobsters, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds each
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter
6 tablespoons baby cilantro leaves

Steps:

For the sauce, combine Beaumes-de-Venise, ginger, shallots and garlic, and cook to reduce to 1 cup. Whisk in cumin and 1 quart cream; return to heat, and reduce to 3 cups. Remove from heat, and strain to remove solids. Season with salt and lime juice to taste, and keep warm.
In large stockpot, combine 3 quarts water with 1/2 cup sea salt. Place over high heat, and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with 3 quarts water and ice, and add 1/2 cup sea salt. Set aside.
Kill each lobster by placing the tip of sharp knife on top of the head behind the eyes and striking it down with a kitchen mallet. Twist off the tails, and break off the claws (with knuckles) at the bodies.
Add claws to pot. After 4 minutes, add tails, and continue to boil 6 minutes longer. Using tongs or slotted spoon, transfer claws and tails to ice water to stop the cooking.
Remove meat from shells, and cut meat into bite-size pieces. Set aside.
In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Add remaining cream, and mix well. Season with sea salt to taste. Bring to a bare simmer, and then add lobster to heat through. To serve, remove lobster from butter-cream mixture, and place an equal portion of lobster on each of four plates. Spoon Beaumes-de-Venise sauce around, and garnish with baby cilantro.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1260, UnsaturatedFat 31 grams, Carbohydrate 29 grams, Fat 95 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 58 grams, SaturatedFat 58 grams, Sodium 1396 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams, TransFat 1 gram