Pan Roasted Lobster with Cava Butter Sauce and Salsa Verde Rice

Ingredients

Lobster:

• 4 live lobsters (1 1/2 to 2 pounds each)
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook 2 lobsters at a time until three-quarters done, approximately 10 minutes.

Heat 2 large saute pans over high heat. Split the lobsters in half, brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Place the lobster in the pan, flesh side down and cook until nicely browned. Turn over and cook shell side down for 1 more minute.

2 shallots, finely chopped

2 cups Cava (Spanish sparkling wine)

2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar

2 tablespoons heavy cream

3 sticks very cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

Salt and freshly ground white pepper

1 tablespoon finely chopped tarragon leaves

Place the shallots, Cava and vinegar in a medium non-reactive saucepan. Boil the liquid over high heat until reduced to 2 tablespoons. Whisk in the heavy cream and cook for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium and add the butter, piece by piece, whisking well after each addition until all has been used. Season with salt and white pepper and add the tarragon.

Risotto:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

2 cups arborio rice

1 cup white wine

1 cup clam juice, shrimp stock or lobster stock

4 to 5 cups boiling water

Salsa Verde, recipe follows

1 tablespoon chopped basil leaves

1 tablespoon chopped tarragon leaves

2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and cook until soft. Add rice and cook for 2 minutes. Add white wine and cook until completely reduced. Add clam juice or stock and cook until all of the liquid has been absorbed. Add boiling water 1 cup at a time and cook until all liquid has been absorbed by the rice. Repeat until all water is used. Fold in the Salsa Verde and cook until mixture has absorbed most of the liquid. Fold in the herbs and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Salsa Verde:

5 tomatillos, papery skins removed, roughly chopped

4 cloves garlic

1/4 cup pure olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

3 tablespoons chopped basil leaves

3 tablespoons chopped tarragon leaves

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Place tomatillos and garlic cloves on a baking sheet or small roasting pan, toss with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until the tomatillos are soft about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the size. Transfer the mixture to a food processor with the herbs and process until smooth.

To assemble dish: Spoon risotto onto a plate and top with 1 or 2 lobster halves. Serve the Cava Butter Sauce on the side.