If you have been intimidated by preparing lobster tail, fear not. With some good kitchen shears, you can have a luxurious, low-calorie broiled lobster tail at a fraction of the restaurant price. Best of all, it makes for a quick easy meal that will come out tender and delicious. The directions below yield perfect broiled lobster tails regardless of size.
Before I started taking cooking classes, I was most afraid to cook seafood. I love seafood. But there was always a true fear of it making me sick.
Thank goodness for recreational cooking classes, I was ashamed that I had waited that long to learn how to prepare seafood. While they didn't cover lobster, they went over food safety, how to look for fresh seafood, and the basics of how to cook shellfish.
Since the weather is getting warmer, maybe having the stove on less is a good thing. After all, isn't your broiler just an upside-down barbeque grill?
Are frozen lobster tails good?
Absolutely! If stored properly, lobster can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months, making it perfect for planning ahead for a special meal like a birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day or just a day when you or a lobster lover in your life should feel special.
What should I serve with lobster tails?
Most often you'll see lobster served with melted or clarified butter, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with serving it with a vinaigrette or mayonnaise-based sauce to dip.
Ideas for vegetables that pair well include: artichokes, asparagus, avocado, cabbage, corn, green beans, carrots, celery, cucumbers, fennel, haricots verts, leeks, lentils, mushrooms, peas, snow peas, spinach, and tomatoes.
Other flavors that pair well with lobster include bacon, Swiss and Parmesan Cheeses (hello mac and cheese), coconut milk, cream, red curry paste, garlic, miso paste, onions, shallots, Wasabi, and Worchester sauce.
Other starches that are commonly served with lobster include potatoes, pasta, and rice.
What herbs pair well with this?
Herbs that pair well with lobster include basil, bay leaf, chives, cilantro, dill, lemongrass, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, and thyme.
Spices that pair well with lobster include cayenne, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, and saffron.
What wines pair well with lobster?
Wines that go well with lobster include Burgundy, Champagne, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc,
Of course, if you take the Julia Child approach of putting some of what you are drinking into what you are cooking here are some ideas: Brandy, Pernod, Vodka, and Whiskey.
How do you prepare frozen lobster tails?
Frozen lobster tails need to be fully defrosted before cooking. As such, they should be thawed in the refrigerator at least overnight, if not 24 hours. This is an important step because you want the meat to be released from the shell. The process of freezing the meat causes it to expand and become attached to the shell.
Tips for making this
- Shellfish does not keep long, so be sure to defrost these a day in advance
- Opening up the shell allows this to cook more evenly and gives a more beautiful presentation
- Be sure to brush the surface with butter or oil to prevent burning
- Preheat your broiler prior to starting the cooking process.
Is broiling the only way to make this?
No, lobster can be baked, boiled, grilled, pan-roasted, poached, sauteed, or steamed in addition to broiling.
Watch Me Make Broiled Lobster Tails (45 Seconds)
How to Make Easy Broiled Lobster Tails
Step 1: If your lobster tails are frozen, place them in the refrigerator overnight to defrost fully. Get your ingredients out and turn on your broiler to high and place the top rack about 6 inches from where your food will be.
Step 2: With a solid pair of kitchen shears or strong kitchen scissors, cut the shells down the middle right to the end of the where the fin meets the end of the shell.
Step 3: Use a knife to run under the meat on the bottom of the shell to make sure it releases easily. You can also use the knife to gently push the meat out of the shell.
Step 4: Open up the lobster tail by squeezing the bottom open and removing the lobster meat by gently placing it on top of the shell. These is also referred to as butterflied lobster tails. Brush with melted butter and paprika or garlic salt.
Step 5: Place on a rack or baking sheet and place 6 inches away from the broiler. Cooking time is simple to remember. You'll need approximately 1 minute for every ounce to cook a lobster tail. These four-ounce lobster tails took 4 minutes under the broiler.
Step 6: Remove from oven when meat is opaque. Serve with butter sauce and lemon wedges (or look at my list about for inspiration for how to pair these beauties) or sprinkle some white pepper on top.
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy
Cocktails That Pair Well with Lobster
I hope you enjoy this Broiled Lobster Tail recipe!
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Broiled Lobster Tail
Ingredients
- 4 4 ounce lobster tails
- 1 tablespoon butter
- paprika to taste
- 1 lemon wedges for serving
- 4 tablespoon butter melted for serving
Instructions
- If buying frozen lobster tails, defrost in the refrigerated 24 hours in advance. If lobster tails are already thawed proceed to the next step.
- Turn on your broiler
- Place a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet and set aside for the prepared lobster tails.
- Remove lobster tails and using kitchen shears cut down the middle of the shell without cutting the meat. Stop cutting just before the fin. Use a regular knife to ensure that the meat has separated from the bottom shell.
- Open up the lobster shell (you may hear cracking, this is normal) and place lobster meat on top of the shell. Repeat for other lobster tails.
- Place butterflied lobster tails on prepared baking sheet.
- Brush with 1 tablespoon of melted butter and sprinkle paprika to taste on top.
- Place in broiler about 6 inches away from the broiler itself. You will need 1 minute per ounce of lobster tail. So a 4 ounce lobster tail will take 4 minutes. This is per lobster tail and not how many are on your baking sheet.
- While lobsters are cooking, cut the lemon into wedges and melt butter.
- Remove lobster tails when meat is opaque and fully cooked.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Broiled lobster tails are best when they are cooked when the meat is thawed, otherwise you will have much tougher meat.
- Meat is done when the meat is opaque.
- It takes approximately 1 minute per ounce of lobster tail to cook. So if each lobster tail is 4 ounces (regardless of how many there are) it should take about 4 minutes.
EllenLV says
Where did you get the lobster tails Brenda? I have not been able to find them.
becomebetty says
Hey Ellen! They were on sale at Stew Leonard's a grocery store by me. I hadn't seen them in a long time at Trader Joe's since the one holiday season they had them and had a craving for them. The weather is getting warmer and I like to not cook quite so much on warm days.
EllenLV says
That's really funny, I know of Stew, he is a regular visitor to Anguilla, my favorite island. Have you tried the TJ's Argentinian Wild Caught Red Shrimp - they really do taste like lobster, I am hooked.
Denise C Browning says
These lobster tails look super delicious. A must Try!
becomebetty says
Hey Denise! Thanks so much!
Diane says
Thanks for the picture illustrations. Thawing the tails and hope to enjoy tomorrow.
becomebetty says
Hey Diane! I hope they help. Let me know how your lobster turns out!