Recipe: Lobster Normandy Style Homard a la Normande

Title: Lobster, Normandy Style (Homard a la Normande)
Categories: Fish/sea, French
Yield: 4 servings

4 Fresh lobsters, live 12 c Calvados
1/2 c Sweet butter 3 c Heavy cream
Salt 3 tb All purpose flour
Freshly ground white pepper 1/2 Lemon, juice of
1/2 c Finely chopped shallots or 1 ds Cayenne pepper
-scallions 2 tb Finely chopped fresh parsley

Servings: 4

Split the lobsters lengthwise with a big knife and break the shells off the
claws with a hammer or a cleaver. Pour the liquid and the tomalley (the
liver) into a small bowl. Discard the stomach (the small sac which is
behind the eyes).

Melt half the butter in a large, heavy saucepan. When the butter turns the
color of a hazelnut, add the lobsters and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Cook over high heat for eight to 10 minutes, turning lobsters often. They
should turn evenly red all over. Remove the lobsters from the saucepan.
Arrange in a large roasting pan and place in a preheated 250-F oven to keep
them warm and to finish cooking.

Add the shallots to the saucepan and sizzle exactly 1 minute without
burning. Add the Calvados, ignite, and when the flame dies out, add the
cream. Work together the remaining butter and the flour. When the sauce
starts boiling, add the flour mixture (beurre manie), bit by bit, whipping
vigorously into the sauce with a wire whisk until smooth. Bring slowly to a
boil. Then mix in the tomalley and lemon juice. Taste for seasoning and add
salt and cayenne pepper, if necessary. You may cook a bit longer to reduce
the sauce if you like it thicker. Stir in the parsley. Pour the sauce over
the lobsters and serve piping hot.

A rice pilaf is usually served with this dish, and we would recommend a
chilled white Traminer wine or a bottle of old cider.

Source: Mom's old magazine clippings- 1940's to 1970's House Beautiful,
September 1970

From Sallie Austin