Description
These Lobster Thermidor Bites are an elegant and bite-sized version of the classic French dish, featuring golden sautéed lobster in a rich cream sauce, all finished off with a touch of cognac for a bit of indulgence. Perfect as an appetizer or a luxurious treat for special occasions, these mini delights pack a ton of flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
Prepared Toast Points, see recipe here
2 live lobsters, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds each or about 3/4 to 1 pound of cooked lobster meat
1 stick butter or 6 tablespoons clarified butter
3 tablespoons cognac or sherry
1 cup heavy cream, plus more as needed
3 egg yolks, beaten
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Toast Points and set them aside.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add the two live lobsters, head first.
- Once boiling, cook the lobsters for exactly eight minutes.
- Discard the water and plunge the lobsters into an ice bath for ten minutes.
- Remove the claw, tail, and knuckle meat; cut it into bite-sized pieces.
- In a sauté pan, melt the butter, skim off the fat, and heat the clarified butter.
- Sauté the lobster meat until golden, about 2 minutes.
- Remove the lobster meat and add the cognac to the pan, followed by the heavy cream. Simmer the mixture until reduced to about a cup.
- Whisk the egg yolks while slowly adding the hot cream to temper them.
- Return the mixture to the pan, add the salt, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Add the lobster meat back into the pan and stir gently over low heat until everything is well combined.
- Serve the Lobster Thermidor mixture on the prepared toast points. Enjoy!
Notes
To store any leftover Lobster Thermidor Bites, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. When ready to reheat, gently warm them in a pan over low heat or microwave in short bursts.
If the sauce gets too thick, add a little more heavy cream to reach the desired consistency.
These bites are great on their own, but can be served with a light salad or other appetizers. A crisp white wine like Chardonnay pairs well with this dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing, Boiling
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
