Lobsters actually need no introduction, we all know well that these are not really everyday kind of food but that notwithstanding it all sums up in making you a genuine food lover or chef.
If you have ever been in a fix on how to go about serving your lobsters or you totally just avoid them because you feel you have to be a pro to serve a perfect plate of lobster then you are in the right place.
Read on while we talk about all there is to know about lobsters and of course, perfect match made side dishes and serving tips.
How Did Lobsters Get Known?
It will surprise you to know that there are over a hundred species of lobsters but only a few are popular. Most of these harvested lobsters are gotten mainly from America and European regions and are then shipped around to various places.
Lobsters bear a lot of relation to prawns and crabs and some people actually can’t tell one apart from the other especially when cooked.
Around the early 17th century, lobsters were regarded more as a nuisance than food, it was given mostly to Slaves, and even the slaves had restrictions on how much they could eat.
It was used instead as fertilizers for crops but when lobsters started to get shipped to different parts of America, people began to take interest in this load of protein freshness and before long it fast became an important delicacy from the 1800’s and as you know important foods come with a price.
Fun Facts about Lobsters
- Lobsters carry their eggs for up to a year.
- The claws of a large lobster can snap a finger.
- The brain of a lobster is as small as the tip of a ball point pen.
- Lobsters have their teeth in the stomach. (Yeeeeeeeah stomach)
- Lobsters live at the bottom of the ocean and can live for over a hundred years.
- Lobsters keep growing indefinitely in size.
Best Ways To Boil, Grill And Fry Your Lobster
1. Boiling lobster
The best way to get the most natural flavor from boiling your lobster is to do so with sea water but that isn’t always readily available even to the best chefs so the next substitute is salt water, try to get a slightly close taste to sea water and you are good to go.
For a step by step way on how to boil your lobster, use this recipe by Mainelobster. It’s as detailed as can be and the end result is pleasing.
2. Grilled Lobster
Another good way to get your lobsters tasty, inviting, and ready to eat is to have it grilled, most people will rather do this with just the lobster tails, and this is because it holds a lot of flesh and is catchy when served.
If you fancy grilling your lobster, then you can make use of this recipe by Snapguide.
Grilling whole lobster is quite similar to that of the tail, just ensure you remove the green tomalley, small sac, and all other unwanted parts from it before grilling, also remember that the tails take a longer period of cooking.
3. Fried Lobster
You just can’t get enough of that rich golden brown look that a well-fried lobster gives you. If you haven’t tried this before, I suggest you do so when next you want to prepare a lobster meal and you can use the recipe by Big country92.5.
I like the creative design and the batter mix used in frying but you can substitute the 7up if you like am sure it will still turn out just fine.
Side Dishes With Your Lobsters
1. Creamy Potato Salad
If you don’t mind a side dish that isn’t so light paired with your lobster then you should go for a creamy potato salad.
One thing I like about this potato salad recipe by Pillsbury is how it all holds together when servings and the colour compliment the lobsters beautifully.
You can always personalize your potatoes salad by adding a few extras, you can even go all the way to preparing your mayonnaise yourself, it is part of the ways to practice on your cooking altogether.
2. Corn On The Cob
This is definitely a very popular choice for pairing with lobsters, it is a good choice if you desire a light side dish that will not overpower the taste of your lobster.
You can break them in half when done and arrange them nicely when serving. I chose this recipe by Mel’skitchen because of the combination of sugar and vinegar, I think it does the corn so well, making it soft and tasty.
You can always make use of salt if you want a chewier feel.
3. Sautéed Green Beans & Cherry Tomatoes
This is another light, well-paired dish with lobsters, another reason why I like this dish is the healthy part of it, it tastes perfect if well prepared and for a good recipe make use of this by Eatingwell.
You can decorate the beans and tomatoes around the lobsters to bring out the rich colour combination. You can also decide to brown up the cherry tomatoes, this is done by lightly heating it up in the oven for some time ranging from fifteen to twenty minutes while turning then internally.
All Set!!!
Grilling or frying your lobster are just the basic ways to get them prepared so you can do a lot more with lobsters than that, spicing and deep seasoning are good ways to start experimenting with fun ways to prepare your lobsters.
If you are getting the lobsters fresh, you should take note of the state of the lobsters, the lobsters should curl around themselves when you pick them up, and that is a sure sign that it’s still alive at the point of purchase.
It is advisable you buy your lobsters when you want to use them to retain its taste and freshness.
If you have any more recipes than the ones discussed above or you want to comment on them, am here to listen. Let’s cook!