Maine Homard a la Crème d'Herbes

INGREDIENTS:

3 Tablespoons butter, unsalted

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

1 medium onion chopped

2 small carrots

2 Maine Lobsters 1½ pounds each

1 cup dry white wine

1 cup fish stock (or bottled clam juice)

To taste, salt and freshly ground pepper

1 bay leaf

1 sprig fresh thyme

5 parsley stems

1 Tablespoon all purpose flour

1 cup heavy cream

Pinch cayenne pepper

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh herbs such as tarragon, chives

DIRECTIONS:

In a large deep skillet or sauté pan, melt 2 Tablespoons butter.  Add the onion and carrots, cook for about 10 minutes, until soft but not brown.  In another large, heavy skillet heat 1 Tablespoon oil until very hot.  Add half the Maine Lobster pieces and sauté over high heat, turning pieces until they turn red about 24 minutes.  Transfer Maine Lobster with a slotted spoon to the pan of onions and carrots.  Continue with rest of Maine Lobster pieces.

Pour wine into pan used to sauté Maine Lobster and bring to a boil.  Pour wine over Maine Lobster pieces, add fish stock (or clam juice) salt, pepper, bay leaf, thyme and parsley stems.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  Remove Maine Lobster pieces with a slotted spoon.  Remove meat from tails and claws.  Put shells into heavy bowl and crush with a pestle.  Return shells to sauce and simmer, uncovered another 10 minutes.

Combine 1 Tablespoon softened butter with the flour and mix until smooth.  Strain the sauce into another saucepan.  Bring to a boil.  Whisk in cream and return to boil.  Gradually whisk in butter flour mixture.  Add a pinch of cayenne, taste and adjust seasonings.  Cut Maine Lobster meat into cubes and add to sauce.

To Serve:  Spoon onto plates.  Serve surrounded by a mixture of fresh peas, carrots, green beans, and turnips.

NUTRITIONAL:

  Per serving:

calories               518.6

carbohydrate        11.3  g

cholesterol             164  mg

fat                         40.1  g

protein                     18  g

sodium                  546  mg

dietary fiber           2.0  g

calcium                  146  mg

Nutritional information provided by MasterCook.  These profiles are meant to be approximate guides to nutrient contents of the recipe.  Those persons on special diets may require more specific nutrient data and should consult their personal physicians, registered dietitians, and/or food manufacturers

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