Lobster Crostini With Buttery Tomato Champagne Sauce Recipe 455

Steps:

• SAUCE: Cut 2 tomatoes in half and squeeze the seeds and juice into a small saucepan set over low heat. Cut the remaining tomato into very small pieces and add to the pot. Turn up heat to medium and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add sugar and 4 tablespoons butter and allow it to melt. Add champagne and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. Pass blended mixture through a fine sieve into the same pot. Simmer over low heat until reduced by 2/3rd the original volume, about 40 to 50 minutes, until the consistency of tomato soup. Add remaining butter, a dash or two of Tabasco or Crystal hot sauce, and season to taste with a little salt and ground white pepper. You can also add a small squeeze of lemon if you like to brighten it up. CROSTINI: Cut lobster tail meat into small pieces. Lightly toast bread slices on both sides. Spread each slice with a teaspoon of hollandaise sauce and top with a lump or two of lobster meat. Drizzle with a teaspoon of the tomato champagne sauce and garnish with dill leaves. Season with a little black pepper and serve.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lobster, and boil for 5 to 6 minutes, until bright red. Remove the lobster, extract the tail and claw meat from the shell, and dice it. Set aside.
• Cut the tomatoes in half horizontally, and squeeze the juice and seeds into a heavy 1-quart saucepan over low heat. Add the butter, whisking constantly, until it is warm and emulsifies with the tomato juice. Add the lobster meat to the saucepan, and set aside.
• Lightly toast the bread. Spoon some the lobster meat onto each piece, and slowly spoon on the butter mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, add a drizzle of olive oil and a sprig of basil.
• Serve at once. Provide knives and forks because the crostini make for messy eating.