Lobster and butter – two iconic ingredients that are even better together Lobster butter takes these rich, luxurious foods to the next level But what exactly is lobster butter?
In this article, I’ll explain everything you need to know about lobster butter, including what it is, how to make it, and creative ways to use it. As a seafood lover and amateur chef, I was curious to learn all about lobster butter and why it’s so popular among gourmets. After research and testing recipes, I’m excited to share my findings with you.
What is Lobster Butter?
Lobster butter also known as lobster compound butter is a flavored butter made by infusing butter with lobster meat and shells. It provides an incredible way to impart sweet, briny lobster flavor into sauces, seafood dishes, and more.
The process involves extracting flavor from lobster shells and meat into a butter base. Herbs and spices are also commonly added to complement the taste of lobster. The resulting lobster-infused butter has an intense, concentrated flavor that can amp up anything it’s served with.
Lobster butter is dense, rich, and creamy with a vivid red-orange hue from the lobster shells. It’s spotlights sweet, delicate lobster essence in each bite. The butter nicely balances and mellows the naturally briny taste of lobster meat.
This seafood-flavored butter is certainly decadent but a little goes a long way in terms of flavor impact. Just a dollop or pat can infuse bright lobster taste into recipes. It’s an easy way to add gourmet flair to your cooking.
How is Lobster Butter Made?
Making homemade lobster butter is surprisingly straightforward. Here’s an overview of the process:
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Extract lobster meat – Remove all the meat from cooked lobster shells. Set lobster meat aside for another use.
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Simmer shells and aromatics – Simmer lobster shells in water with vegetables, herbs and spices to create a flavorful lobster stock.
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Strain and reserve stock – Once simmered, strain the lobster stock to remove any solids.
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Melt butter – Gently heat butter in a saucepan until completely melted and hot.
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Infuse butter with lobster – Add lobster meat and a spoonful of lobster stock to the melted butter. This infuses the butter with concentrated lobster essence.
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Flavor and season – Stir in any extra flavorings like lemon juice, garlic, herbs, hot sauce or wine. Season to taste.
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Cool and serve – Allow the lobster butter to cool to room temperature so it firms up. Use immediately or refrigerate.
It only takes about 10-15 minutes of active prep time. Most of the time is hands-off simmering and cooling. With a few simple steps, you can conjure up the taste of lobster season in butter form anytime.
Tips for Making Perfect Lobster Butter at Home
Making restaurant-quality lobster butter is easy, but there are some tips to ensure ideal flavor and texture:
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Seek out fresh, high-quality lobster rather than pre-cooked or frozen lobster meat. This gives the best flavor.
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Cook the lobster yourself rather than using pre-cooked meat. Tailor cooking time to avoid overcooking.
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Reserve shells, legs, claws and body meat – don’t discard any parts. The shells impart key flavor.
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Simmer shells very gently in stock. High heat can make the stock bitter.
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Use a high-fat European style butter for the best mouthfeel and flavor integration.
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Infuse the butter with both lobster meat and stock for well-rounded flavor.
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Avoid overheating the butter – gentle, indirect heat prevents separation.
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Cool completely before serving or storing for ideal texture. Warm gently to serve.
Follow these tips and you’ll be rewarded with lobster butter that rivals fine restaurants! Play with added flavors like garlic, herbs and lemon to customize your own signature blend.
Creative Ways to Use Lobster Butter
Lobster butter is a secret weapon in any seafood lover’s arsenal. Its versatility makes it useful in so many dishes and cooking methods:
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Compound seafood butters – Mix into flavored butter blends along with crab, shrimp, scallops or other seafood.
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Lobster rolls – Dollop on top of toasted rolls stuffed with lobster salad for next-level flavor.
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Seafood pasta – Toss with hot pasta and shrimp, scallops or chunks of lobster meat.
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Risotto and rice – Stir a spoonful into seafood risotto or rice pilaf before serving.
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Baking and roasting – Top fish fillets, whole fish or shellfish before baking or roasting.
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Grilled seafood – Brush lobster butter over fish, shrimp or lobster tails while grilling.
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Steamed dishes – Melt over steamed mussels, clams, crab legs or lobster claws.
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Buttered bread – Elevate seafood dishes by serving flavored butter melted on bread as a dipper.
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Seafood sauces – Whisk into pan sauces, beurre blancs and pasta sauces as a flavor boost.
Lobster butter adds indulgent richness and intense briny flavor to anything it touches. A little truly goes a long way thanks to its concentrated taste. Get creative with this versatile, decadent butter.
Step-by-Step Lobster Butter Recipe
Want to make your own lobster gold at home? Follow this simple step-by-step recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 cooked lobster body/tail, shell removed and meat reserved
- Shells and legs from 1 cooked lobster
- 2 tablespoons minced shallot
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup water
- 1 sprig fresh tarragon
- 1⁄2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon reserved lobster meat, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
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Combine lobster shells, shallot, white wine, water and tarragon in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
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Strain the stock through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl. Discard solids. Let stock cool 5 minutes.
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In another saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat until foamy.
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Add 1 tablespoon of strained lobster stock, chopped lobster meat, lemon juice and cayenne to melted butter. Cook 2 minutes until heated through.
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Remove pan from heat. Season lobster butter to taste with salt.
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Transfer lobster butter to a ramekin to cool and firm up before serving or storing.
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Serve immediately as a dip for lobster tails, drizzled over fish or shrimp, or on grilled bread.
With just 20 minutes of simmering and seasoning melted butter, you can make this impressive, versatile lobster compound butter at home. Adjust the lemon, cayenne and salt to tailor the flavor balance to your taste.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lobster Butter
Here are answers to some common questions about how to make and use lobster butter:
Can you make lobster butter without fresh lobster?
Yes, you can use thawed lobster tails or claw meat. The flavor won’t be quite as fresh, but it still infuses delicious lobster essence into butter.
Is lobster butter healthy?
While high in saturated fat, a little lobster butter goes a long way. Eaten in moderation, it can fit into a balanced diet and provides some vitamins and minerals.
How should you store lobster butter?
Keep refrigerated up to 1 week. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight before using.
What’s the difference between clarified butter and whole butter for lobster butter?
Whole butter has a richer flavor, while clarified has a higher smoke point for sautéing. Both work well – choose based on use.
Can you use lobster butter on steak or other non-seafood dishes?
Yes! The sweet briny flavor of lobster butter also pairs beautifully with meat. Use as a finishing butter on grilled steaks or roasts.
What’s the best way to melt and serve lobster butter?
Gently warm lobster butter until just melted – microwave or indirect heat works well. Serve immediately for the ideal emulsion and texture.
Does lobster butter go well with any other foods besides seafood?
It’s delicious on vegetables like grilled corn, baked potatoes, and asparagus. Also lovely with breads and biscuits. Get creative!
With the versatility of lobster butter, there are so
