The top view offers a glimpse into the luxurious world of gastronomy: a stunningly bright, halved lobster shell filled with juicy chunks of lobster meat coated in a creamy light-yellow béchamel sauce with hints of green herbs, contrasted against the deep-red lobster shell. The lobster is arranged on a plate circled with mixed greens and an array of dainty edible flowers cultured for a burst of colors.

Grand Manhattan Lobster Thermidor

Name: Grand Manhattan Lobster Thermidor
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Lobster, around 2 lbs (1 lobster); Unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons; Green onions, 2 finely chopped; Garlic, 2 cloves minced; Plain flour, 2 tablespoons; Dry white wine, 1/2 cup; Heavy cream, 1 cup; Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon; Fresh tarragon, 2 tablespoons chopped; Gruyère cheese, 1 cup grated; Salt, to taste; Black pepper, to taste freshly ground; Edible flowers, a handful for garnish; Mixed salad greens, for presentation

Category Main Course

Prep 30 minutes

Cook 25 minutes

Style American

Technique Boiling

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily Recipe: September 25, 2023

In honor of National Lobster Day, I'm sharing an iconic lobster dish that is sure to wow your friends on Instagram. The key ingredients are naturally the fresh lobster itself, paired with an aromatic blend of herbs, and vibrant edible flowers which not only impart a subtle flavor but also make the dish visually stunning.

Ingredients (for 2)

Lobster - around 2 lbs (1 lobster)
Unsalted butter - 2 tablespoons
Green onions - 2 - finely chopped
Garlic - 2 cloves - minced
Plain flour - 2 tablespoons
Dry white wine - 1/2 cup
Heavy cream - 1 cup
Dijon mustard - 1 tablespoon
Fresh tarragon - 2 tablespoons - chopped
Gruyère cheese - 1 cup - grated
Salt - to taste
Black pepper - to taste - freshly ground
Edible flowers - a handful - for garnish
Mixed salad greens - - for presentation

Preparation

Step 1 - 🌡️🔥⏲️

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Step 2 - 🦞🥘⏰

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lobster and cook for 8-10 minutes. Then, remove the lobster and allow it to cool.
Step 3 - 🦞🔪🎁

Halve the lobster lengthwise, remove the meat from the claws and tail. Leave the meat in large chunks, and clean the shell for presentation.
Step 4 - 🧈🍳💡

Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the green onions and garlic and sauté until soft. Stir in the flour.
Step 5 - 🍷🥛❄️

Gradually whisk in the wine and cream, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
Step 6 - 🍳🌿🧀

Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the mustard, tarragon, half the cheese, lobster meat, salt, and pepper.
Step 7 - 🥄🧀🦞

Spoon the lobster mixture into the cleaned lobster shells, and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
Step 8 - 🍽️⏲️🔥

Place the lobster halves on a baking sheet, and bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
Step 9 - 🦞🥗🌸

To serve, arrange the lobster halves on a bed of mixed greens, garnish with the edible flowers.

Additional

The beauty of this dish is that, while it is incredibly impressive, it's actually quite simple to make. Plus, you can choose to omit the flowers if they're not available, and it'll still be a feast for the eyes!