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Langouste à la Vanille

Yields4 ServingsPrep Time25 minsCook Time30 minsTotal Time55 mins

Tender lobster in a fragrant vanilla cream sauce.

Comorian langouste à la vanille, lobster prepared with fragrant vanilla

Lobster and vanilla sauce
 2 whole lobsters, about 700 g each
 1 tbsp fine salt, for the cooking water
 2 tbsp unsalted butter
 2 shallots, finely chopped
 2 cloves garlic, minced
 2 medium ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
 1 vanilla bean
 ½ cup dry white wine
 ¾ cup heavy cream
 ½ tsp fine salt
 ¼ tsp ground white pepper
 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
Directions
1

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a rolling boil. Add the lobsters, cover and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until the shells turn bright red.

2

Transfer the lobsters to a tray and cool until easy to handle. Remove the tail and claw meat, discard the intestinal vein and cut the meat into large bite-size pieces.

3

Melt the butter in a wide skillet over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and cook for 4 minutes until translucent but not browned, then stir in the garlic for 30 seconds.

4

Add the tomatoes and cook over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they soften into a light sauce and most watery liquid evaporates.

5

Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the skillet; add the pod and wine. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, until the wine reduces by about half.

6

Lower the heat and stir in the cream, salt and white pepper. Simmer gently for 5 minutes until the sauce lightly coats a spoon; do not let it boil hard.

7

Add the lobster meat and warm it gently in the sauce for 2 to 3 minutes, turning once, just until heated through.

8

Remove the vanilla pod, stir in the lime juice and parsley, and taste for seasoning. Serve immediately with rice or bread.

Notes

Use a whole vanilla bean for the cleanest floral aroma. Do not boil the lobster after adding it to the sauce, or the meat can become tough.

Nutrition Facts

4 servings

Serving size

1 portion

Amount per serving
Calories430
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 26g34%

Saturated Fat 15g75%
Trans Fat 0g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 225mg75%
Sodium 780mg34%
Total Carbohydrate 12g5%

Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 34g

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.