Champagne Butter Poached Lobster

Ingredients

• 1 cup salted butter cut into 1 tbsp cubes
• 1 cup Champagne or Brut sparkling wine
• 4 (4 oz) Lobster tails, thawed

Instructions

1. Remove lobster tails from refrigeration about 20 minutes before beginning this recipe.
2. In a medium-sized skillet, gently simmer 1 cup champagne over medium heat for 5 minutes.
3. While champagne is simmering, cut lobster tails in half lengthwise using a very sharp chef’s knife or kitchen shears and remove the vein.
4. Reduce heat on champagne to low and add 2 tablespoons of butter and whisk vigorously until it’s completely melted. This creates a butter/champagne emulsion. Repeat the process with the remainder of the butter until it’s all incorporated into the sauce. This is similar to the classic French beurre monte sauce but made with champagne instead of water.
5. Increase the heat to medium-low and heat sauce to 160°F or just starting to bubble here and there (a very low simmer).
6. Add in lobster tail halves, flesh side down, and allow to cook for 4 minutes. Ideally, the sauce should stay between 160°F-170°F. Just don’t let it go over 190°F or the emulsion will break. Baste the lobster with the sauce continuously. After 4 minutes, flip the lobster tail halves and cook until the internal temperature in the thickest portions is betwen 140°F-145°F (about another 3-4 minutes). Baste continuously with the sauce. A meat thermometer is highly recommended here to ensure the correct temperature of this delicate sauce and so that you don’t over or undercook the lobster.
7. Serve immediately with the champagne butter sauce.