James Budros's lobster and scallops with beurre blanc
- 2 live lobsters, each weighing about 1 1/4 pounds
- 3 large endives, about 3/4 pound
- 1 or 2 leeks, green part and all, about 3/4 pound
- 13 tablespoons butter
- Salt to taste, if desired
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
- 1 pound scallops, preferably bay scallops (if sea scallops are used, cut them into quarters)
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
- 1/4 cup whitewine vinegar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 6 teaspoons black caviar
- Drop the lobsters into boiling water, cover closely and cook about 10 minutes.
- Drain.
- Trim off the tough ends of each endive and trim away any brown spots.
- Cut each endive crosswise in half.
- Cut each half lengthwise into thin slices.
- Cut the slices into very thin julienne strips.
- There should be about four cups.
- Trim off the ends of the leek or leeks.
- Cut the leeks crosswise, green part and all, into two-inch lengths.
- Cut each length into very thin julienne strips.
- There should be about four and one-half cups.
- Heat four tablespoons of the butter in a heavy skillet and add the leeks.
- Cook, stirring, about 10 minutes.
- Add the endive, stirring to blend.
- Add the salt and pepper.
- Cover closely and cook, stirring occasionally, about three minutes.
- Meanwhile, put the scallops in a small skillet and add the wine.
- Bring to the boil and cook, stirring occasionally, about one minute.
- Drain the scallops, reserving the cooking liquid.
- There should be about one-quarter cup.
- Heat one tablespoon of butter and add the shallots.
- Add the vinegar, and cook until almost reduced.
- Add the reserved scallop cooking liquid.
- Cook until liquid almost evaporates.
- Add the cream, salt and pepper, and bring to the boil.
- Cook down until reduced almost by half.
- Add the remaining eight tablespoons butter, a little at a time, to the sauce, stirring with a wire whisk.
- Pull apart and crack the lobsters, removing the meat from the tails and claws.
- Cut the meat into neat, bite-size cubes.
- When ready to serve, transfer the hot endive and leek mixture to a warm serving dish.
- Arrange the lobster pieces over the center of the vegetables.
- Arrange the scallops around the lobster meat.
- Spoon the sauce equally over the scallops and lobster meat.
- You may garnish the top of this with the tip of the lobster heads, arranging them beak to beak.
- Serve on six warm dinner plates.
- Top each serving with a teaspoon of caviar.
live lobsters, endives, leeks, butter, salt, freshly ground pepper, used, white wine, shallots, whitewine vinegar, heavy cream, black caviar
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/5908 (may not work)