Barbecued Lobster

Firm, delicate and luscious
but, alas, expensive!

Lobster shell is dark blue or green – unfortunately if you want barbecued lobsters, you have to buy them alive. Don’t ever buy a dead, uncooked, lobster as the flesh spoils very quickly. You could use frozen lobster tails for utmost convenience. It’s a taste v. hassle decision!

It’s said that female lobsters (the hens) are tastier than the males (cocks) and that they have a finer flesh. A 450 - 500 g female lobster is a good size for one person. Male or female, choose one that is heavy for its size.

Kill a lobster by laying it on its back and inserting the tip of a large sharp knife between the body shell and the tail segment. This cuts the spinal cord. Then split it lengthways by drawing the knife down the center of the back.

Clean it by discarding the black intestine running down the middle of the tail and also the white gills at the top of the head.

If you have bought females, remove the bright red coral or roe and reserve these. They can be used for making tasty coral butter to serve with the cooked lobster – simply blend each coral with about 50 g of butter.

You’ll also need more butter for this barbecued lobster recipe:

Mix 50 g of soft butter with a teaspoon of pimenton or paprika, a pinch of sea salt and some freshly ground black pepper and then spread generously over the lobster flesh.

Grill the lobsters, cut side down first, over a medium heat for 5-7 minutes. Shellfish flesh is delicate so if the coals are very hot, move the shelf up until a medium to hot heat is achieved.

Then turn them and continue cooking for another 8 – 10 minutes.

Cooking in this way will mean that the juices will conveniently collect in the shell, keeping the meat moist and succulent.

Keep an eye on the tail meat – when it becomes opaque that is the sign that the lobster has been cooked enough.

Serve immediately, as it doesn’t improve if left hanging around once it’s ready.

Serve with lemon wedges. A simple salad and crusty bread, with coral butter if you have it, will complete your barbecued lobster meal nicely.

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