This recipe is very simple — lobster tail on a bed of greens with a light lemon dressing. Simple dishes like this serve as a reminder that we can easily make a "fancy" meal at home without much expense or effort and with pure and fresh ingredients.
You can save ideas like this to your recipe app under a category like "Restaurant Meals at Home." This is also a great place to keep notes on dishes and inspiration from dining out. You might be surprised how many restaurant meals are simple to make — and when you cook them yourself, you control the quality of the ingredients.
Lobster tails — one 4-ounce tail per person
Lettuce — green or red leaf complement the lobster well
Lemon dressing (olive oil and lemon juice)
Optional: cream
Preheat the oven to 350° F.
Place the lobster tails on a baking sheet, shell side up. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the shells turn bright orange-pink.
Let the lobster cool slightly. Then, using a kitchen towel or paper towel to protect your hand, hold a lobster tail and carefully cut down the underside of the shell with kitchen scissors.
Gently wedge your fingers into the cut and peel back the shell to release the lobster meat.
Fill a pot with enough water to cover the lobster tails.
Bring the water to a boil.
Add the lobster tails and boil for about 5 minutes (for 4-ounce tails) or up to 10 minutes for larger ones, until the shells turn bright orange-pink.
Remove the tails from the pot and let them cool slightly.
Follow the same method as above to remove the lobster from the shell.
Arrange lettuce on a plate.
Make the lemon dressing (which takes just a few minutes and can be done while the lobster bakes).
Place the lobster tail on the lettuce and drizzle with dressing.
I use lemon dressing for this dish, and sometimes I like to add a bit of cream and a pinch of sugar.
Boiling the lobster is a bit quicker, but to me, baking is more convenient. Both yield an excellent result.
I often find 4-ounce lobster tails for $9-$10 each, making this a special yet economical alternative to dining out. It’s a satisfying portion when paired with a luscious dessert like fruit clafoutis or something chocolate!
