Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Indulgent & Elegant – The butter poaching method creates a luxurious and tender texture that melts in your mouth.
- Easy to Make – Despite the elegance of the dish, it’s surprisingly simple and quick, taking only 35 minutes from start to finish.
- Perfect for Any Occasion – Whether it’s a holiday feast, an anniversary dinner, or a dinner party, butter poached lobster tails will be a showstopper.
- Flavored with Garlic & Lemon – The garlic and lemon enhance the sweetness of the lobster, creating a perfectly balanced dish.
Ingredients
- 4 lobster tails
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup vegetable stock (or seafood stock)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lemon wedges (for serving)
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Lobster Tails
- Using kitchen scissors, carefully cut the top of the lobster shells lengthwise. This allows the butter to penetrate and cook the meat evenly, ensuring perfect poaching.
Step 2: Melt the Butter
- In a medium saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over low heat. Be careful not to let it brown; the goal is to keep the butter pale and just melted.
Step 3: Add Garlic
- Once the butter has melted, stir in the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, or until fragrant, taking care not to let the garlic burn.
Step 4: Incorporate Stock
- Pour in the vegetable or seafood stock and fresh lemon juice. Stir everything together and allow the mixture to warm slightly. This creates a flavorful butter broth for poaching the lobster.
Step 5: Poach the Lobster
- Submerge the lobster tails in the butter mixture. Poach them over low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the lobster meat becomes opaque and fully cooked through. Avoid boiling, as this could toughen the meat.
Step 6: Season and Rest
- Once the lobster is cooked, season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the lobster tails from the saucepan and let them rest for a minute to allow the flavors to set.
Step 7: Plating
- Gently remove the lobster meat from the shells, if desired, or serve them in their shells for an elegant presentation. Drizzle the butter sauce over the lobster and garnish with fresh parsley.
Step 8: Serve
- Serve the butter poached lobster tails with lemon wedges on the side for a tangy contrast to the richness of the butter.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: 4 lobster tails
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
Variations
- Spicy Twist: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the butter mixture for a little heat.
- Herbaceous Flavor: You can also add fresh thyme, rosemary, or tarragon to the butter for an aromatic infusion.
- Lemon Zest: For extra citrus flavor, sprinkle the lobster with lemon zest just before serving.
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store any leftover lobster in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Reheating: Reheat gently in the butter sauce on the stove over low heat, ensuring not to overcook the lobster again.
FAQs
Can I use frozen lobster tails for this recipe?
Yes, you can use frozen lobster tails, but make sure they are fully thawed before poaching for best results.
Do I need to remove the lobster meat from the shell?
It’s up to you! Leaving the lobster meat in the shell is visually stunning, but removing it makes it easier to eat. Both options work perfectly.
Can I use a different type of oil instead of butter?
Butter is essential for the flavor and texture in this recipe. However, you can use clarified butter or ghee if you prefer a healthier fat or want a slightly different flavor.
Can I make this ahead of time?
While lobster is best served fresh, you can prepare the butter sauce in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Simply reheat the sauce and poach the lobster just before serving.
Can I poach lobster tails in the oven instead?
Yes, you can place the lobster tails in a baking dish with the butter sauce and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until the lobster meat is opaque.
Conclusion
These Butter Poached Lobster Tails are an elegant yet simple dish that brings a luxurious touch to any meal. With a rich garlic and lemon butter sauce, tender lobster meat, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, they’re perfect for special occasions or a cozy dinner at home. This recipe is guaranteed to impress your guests or loved ones—indulge in the decadence of poached lobster with this easy, irresistible recipe!
Butter Poached Lobster Tails: An Incredible Ultimate Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
These **Butter Poached Lobster Tails** are a luxurious and indulgent seafood dish, perfect for special occasions or when you want to treat yourself. The lobster is tender and juicy, poached in a rich butter sauce infused with garlic, lemon, and herbs, creating a melt-in-your-mouth experience. It’s easy to make and guaranteed to impress.
Ingredients
4 lobster tails
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup vegetable stock (or seafood stock)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Salt and pepper to taste
Lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Lobster Tails – Using kitchen scissors, carefully cut the top of the lobster shells lengthwise.
- Step 2: Melt the Butter – In a medium saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over low heat, ensuring it doesn’t brown.
- Step 3: Add Garlic – Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Step 4: Incorporate Stock – Pour in the vegetable or seafood stock and lemon juice. Stir to combine and warm slightly.
- Step 5: Poach the Lobster – Submerge the lobster tails in the butter mixture. Poach over low heat for 10-15 minutes, until the lobster meat is opaque and fully cooked.
- Step 6: Season and Rest – Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove lobster tails from the saucepan and let rest for a minute.
- Step 7: Plating – Gently remove the lobster meat from the shells (or serve in the shells). Drizzle with the butter sauce and garnish with fresh parsley.
- Step 8: Serve – Serve with lemon wedges on the side for added zest and enjoy.
Notes
Frozen lobster tails should be fully thawed before poaching.
For a healthier fat option, you can substitute the butter with clarified butter or ghee.
If you prefer a more herbal flavor, you can add rosemary, thyme, or tarragon to the butter for infusing during poaching.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Poaching
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 lobster tail with butter sauce
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
