This is my lobster guy. He is one of about 15 lobstermen who operate out of Rockport Harbor, and he makes it so easy for me to always have fresh lobster. Four times a week he goes out to bait and check traps, and when I want lobster I send him an email. On the designated day, he calls when he’s on his way in, and a few minutes later I meet him at the dock to pick up my fresh out of the water lobster. This has become one of my favorite rituals.
Not only does he provide the lobster, he’s always good for a tip. Thanks to him I now remove the rubber band from the claws before steaming the lobster as he advised that leaving it on resulted in a rubbery flavor. Makes sense, but I’ve always left the rubber band in place because I didn’t want those claws grabbing hold of a finger. Lobsters can be quite active before they go into the pot!
One day he asked me how I steamed the lobster. I said in salted water. He answered, “You’re on the water. Next time go down and get salt water right out of the harbor, maybe even add a little seaweed to the pot.” I did it, and you know what, the lobster was even better.
There are so many ways to fix lobster, and one of my most favorites is lobster stew. Not only is it delicious on a chilly night, it is so easy to make. Are you ready?
Lobster Stew
2 or 3 lobsters*
1/2 gallon milk**
2 T. dry sherry (optional)
1/2 c. butter
salt and pepper to taste
Steam the lobster and remove meat from the tail and claws. Cut into bite sized pieces and saute in butter in a large pot for about 2 minutes. Add milk and heat until it’s nice and hot, but do not let it boil. Add sherry, salt and pepper, ladle into heated soup bowls, garnish with parsley and serve with oyster crackers. How easy is that!
*You can steam the lobster yourself or buy it already prepared which, of course, is easiest.
**I use any milk and like the stew best when I mix half and half with whole or low fat milk.
When I am in Houston, oysters are more readily available than fresh lobster, and I use this same recipe for oyster stew, omitting the sherry. Some things are just failsafe and this recipe is one of them. Don’t you love those that are as easy as they are good?
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Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
This sounds delicious! I love anything lobster! Thank you for sharing. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/10/make-it-pretty-monday-week-20.html Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
That was a great tip!!…I remember as a child when my uncle would pull his lobster traps out in the Florida Keys….He was a true “Conch”…all I know is that he was one of the very first people to get a “lobster trap license”…he had a very low numbered license..like “3”…he passed away years ago, but I remember those wonderful days …
Yummy! That looks so delicious! I love seaweed, how wonderful to be able to get it fresh. Thanks for your visit and your sweet comment 🙂
And what do you do with seaweed?
Oh Yum! You always make me wish I lived in a place where I could get fresh seafood. Love your arrangement with the Lobster man. He sounds like a good friend to have. laurie
It has been very fun to meet him at the dock and get the pick of the catch.
My mama was born on PEI and raised in Bath, Maine. I love Maine, and am quite envious of that lobster!
Thanks for your kind comment on my Country Living magazine inspired craft.
Do you still have relatives in Maine? I go through Bath quite often as it is on the way to Portland. Thanks for your visit. Do come again.
This Lobster Stew was very easy (except for cleaning out the hard shelled lobsters!) and so good. I used a couple cups of water that I boiled the lobster bodies in instead of a couple cups of the milk. Everyone loved it!
This concept is so foreign to me as I live in the dead center of the country. I think, however, that I would be so in love with the ability to do just as you have described that I, too, would cherish the ritual. What a cool thing to just be able to scoot over to the dock and get a fresh one! By the time lobsters make their way here to Missouri, they have grown a beard and are on a steady diet of Metamucil! 🙂
Actually, lobsters ship pretty well because only the hard shells go out. Even so, they are not as good as when they are right out of the water.
OMG, that stew looks like heaven!
sounds lovely Linda I wish I could come to dinner!
Julie, I know I would love to have you for dinner.
Oh my goodness, fresh lobster at your “beck and call”? Now that’s living the life!
Thanks for sharing your recipe – my husband loves anything with seafood, but I’ve been too afraid to make any for him (after 17 years of marriage)! Your fail-safe recipe should do the trick 😉
I hope you do try it and that your hubby is a resulting happy camper.
You’re living a dream and don’t even know it….says the land locked “flat lander.” I can’t even imagine the luxury of jetting down to the wharf to pick up my lobster…we do however have spectacular beef available at all times. Thanks for the recipe for the Lobster Stew. Sounds delicious. Cherry Kay
A dream? Indeed. I’m always glad to have you stop by.
Do you ever use shrimp in your stew when you are in Houston? It looks yummy and I love the simplicity of putting it together!
Susan, I’ve not used shrimp in this particular recipe, but I recently posted a soup with mushrooms and shrimp that is yummy.
Great photos and wow, I know you get to enjoy Lobster. I enjoyed your beautiful tabletop from your last post. Gorgeous colors.
Yes, we enjoy lobster especially when it has been as plentiful and affordable as this season.
A favorite dish and presentation of lobster was when the chef took the whole of the lobster meat out of shell including claws meet and set on plate covered with a bisque similar to this soup.
Anything with lobster is going to be good!
That sounds delicious ! How wonderful to email your order! I have a different method for clams and oysters. I just grab the rake and go get them, or rather hand dh the rake! Soon it will be too cold though!
Gorgeous today, still enjoying the outdoor showers!
Sometimes the simple things are the best. Haven’t tried getting my own clams and oysters, but I’m good at mussels!