Name: Lobster thermidor
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 2
Ingredients: 40g butter; 20g plain flour; 350ml whole milk; 1 long shallot finely chopped; 100ml white wine; a handful of leaves tarragon; 1 tsp Dijon mustard; 45g parmesan finely grated, plus a little extra; ½ tsp smoked paprika plus a sprinkle; 1 large cooked lobster; a handful flat-leaf parsley chopped; lemon wedges to serve

A lobster thermidor on a white serving plate

40g butter
20g plain flour
350ml whole milk
1 long shallot
finely chopped
100ml white wine
a handful of leaves tarragon
1 tsp Dijon mustard
45g parmesan
finely grated, plus a little extra
½ tsp smoked paprika
plus a sprinkle
1 large cooked lobster
a handful flat-leaf parsley
chopped
lemon wedges
to serve

Method

step 1
Melt 20g of the butter in a pan. Once foaming, mix in the flour and cook for a few minutes. Gradually add the milk a splash at a time, whisking throughout, only adding more once it is fully incorporated. Season and simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.
step 2
Melt the remaining butter in a small frying pan and gently cook the shallot for 5 minutes until softened. Add the white wine and bubble for a few minutes before adding the tarragon, dijon, parmesan and paprika. Stir this into the white sauce you made and season.
step 3
Use a sharp knife to cut the lobster in half, splitting the head and tail down the middle. Use a teaspoon to remove all of the tail meat, and bash the claw to remove that meat too. Roughly chop the meat and mix it into the sauce.
step 4
Heat the grill to high. Put the empty lobster shells onto a baking tray and spoon the lobster meat back into the shell. Sprinkle over a little more parmesan and a pinch more paprika, and bubble under the grill for 4-5 minutes or until golden.
step 5
Sprinkle with parsley and serve with a green salad, lemon wedges and crusty bread.