Lobster Thermidor


Lobster Thermidor
In this recipe, the lobster are cooked first in a court bouillon (stock), then the flesh is removed and cut into small pieces before being cooked with the cream and alcohol. The dish is browned in the oven to finish.
160 K 4.4/5 (34 reviews)
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Last modified on: January 22th 2012
For 4 people, you will need:
  • 1 lobsters tail 4 lobsters tail
  • 2 butter 50 g butter
  • 3 Port 3 tablespoons Port
  • 4 Brandy (Cognac or Armagnac) 4 tablespoons Brandy (Cognac or Armagnac)
  • 5 flour 2 tablespoons flour
  • 6 cream 150 ml cream
  • 7 salt salt
  • 8 pepper pepper
  • Total weight: 675 grams

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Times for this recipe
Preparation: 7 min.
Cooking: 30 min.
All in all: 35 min.
When should you start or finish this recipe?
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Step by step recipe


Stage 1 - 7 min.
Lobster Thermidor
Cook the 4 lobsters tail in court bouillon, then remove the flesh from the shells and cut into pieces or slice.

Note: do not overcook the lobster or they will become rubbery. Use a thermometer if possible, and cook until the temperature at the centre of a tail reaches 60°C (140°F).

Stage 2 - 3 min.
Lobster Thermidor
Heat 50 g butter in a large frying pan on high heat. When hot, tip in the lobster pieces and sauter (fry, tossing gently in the pan) for 2 or 3 minutes.

Stage 3 - 2 min.
Lobster Thermidor
Pour in 3 tablespoons Port and 4 tablespoons Brandy (Cognac or Armagnac) and continue cooking until the liquid has been absorbed.

Stage 4 - 3 min.
Lobster Thermidor
Sprinkle with flour and cook for a further 2 or 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the lobster begins to brown slightly.

Stage 5 - 10 min.
Lobster Thermidor
Pour in 150 ml cream, salt and pepper. Turn down the heat and leave to thicken on low heat.

Check seasoning.

Stage 6 - 5 min.
Lobster Thermidor
Divide equally between small ramekins...

Stage 7 - 5 min.
Lobster Thermidor
... and finish in the oven for a few minutes, until browned on the top.

Stage 8
Lobster Thermidor
Serve piping hot in the ramekin.
Remarks
The original very classy, but somewhat-dated recipe is for lobster Thermidor, but lobster or langoustines (Norway lobster) work very well.

In the original version, the flesh is put back into the shell rather than into ramekins, which is much prettier, but rather tricky to do. If you want to try it, stand the half-shells in a bed of coarse salt to keep them upright.
Keeping: A few days in a sealed container, before the final oven cooking. .
Source: Based on a recipe by Ginette Mathiot.
Nutritional information
Proteins (gr)Carbohydrates (gr)Fats (gr)Energy value (in k-calories)Energy value (in k-joules)
Whole recipe70 RDI=30 %40 RDI=4 %100 RDI=20 %1,490 RDI=70 %6,220 RDI: 70 %
Per 100 g9 RDI=4 %6 RDI=1 %10 RDI=2 %220 RDI=10 %930 RDI: 10 %
Per person20 RDI=6 %10 RDI=1 %20 RDI=4 %370 RDI=20 %1,560 RDI: 20 %
The % figures are calculated in relation to the Recommended Dietary Intake , or RDI of 2,000 k-calories (or 8,400 k-joules) per day for a woman Change to a man
Possible allergens in this recipe: Shellfish, Milk, Gluten
How much will it cost?
  • For 4 people : 15.35 €
  • Per person : 3.85 €

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Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
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The 1 comment already posted on this recipe
  • Since moving to Pennsylvania, I have not been able to get fresh seafood of any kind. I took it for granted, when I lived in New York, fresh seafood was but a stone throw away, {sigh} Lovely dish, jh. Thanks for sharing...
    Posted by Louise january 22th 2012 at 14:03 n° 1

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