Tested and Perfected by Food and Wine

Sherry-Creamed Lobster with Biscuits

Contributed by
  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME:
  • SERVINGS: 4

  1. 2 tablespoons fine sea salt
  2. Two 1 1/2-pound live lobsters
  3. 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  4. 1/4 cup medium-dry sherry, such as amontillado or oloroso
  5. 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  6. 1 cup whole milk
  7. 1/2 cup light cream
  8. Freshly ground pepper
  9. Hot Biscuits, for serving
  1. Fill a large stockpot with 2 inches of water, add the salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Put the lobsters in the boiling water, add the salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Put the lobsters in the boiling water, head first, and cook until they start to turn red, about 4 minutes. With tongs, transfer the lobsters to a bowl to cool.
  2. Remove the meat from the knuckles and claws. Twist the tails off the bodies; reserve the greenish tomalley and blackish roe. Split the tails lengthwise lengthwise and and remove the meat. Pull out and discard the black intestinal vein. Cut the lobster meat into 1-inch chunks and transfer to a bowl.
  3. In a small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter with the sherry. Pour the butter over the lobster; set aside.
  4. In a medium saucepan, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter over moderately high heat. Stir in the flour to make a paste. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth, then bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Simmer over low heat, whisking often, until the sauce is glossy and no floury taste remains, about 5 minutes. Add the cream and simmer for 2 minutes more. Fold in the lobster meat and sherry butter and season with pepper. Blend in the tomalley and roe and simmer until the lobster is cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Serve with Hot Biscuits on the side.

Suggested Pairing

Serve with a smooth, lush Sémillon from Signorello or a crisp Stags Leap District Sauvignon Blanc from Robert Mondavi, both from California.