lobstah chowdah
Recipe: lobster corn chowder
I’m wearing pants. PANTS! We’ve had cool, rainy weather this week in Colorado. Well, the cool isn’t such a reach for this time of year, but the rainy is. My oven and stove have seen more use in the past few days than they have all summer thanks to the cooldown. One of the recipes I tried recently was a knock-my-socks-off gem of a soup. I love it because it is at the intersection of summer and fall. Summer, because of the ingredients and fall, because it warms you from the inside to fight off the chill outside. I’m talking about lobster corn chowder.
two whole lobsters and two tails
cooked (steamed)
extracting the lobster meat, saving the shells, and catching the juices
Because I reside in a landlocked state far far away from Maine, I bought frozen cold water lobsters. My fish monger only had two, and I needed three, so I supplemented with two petite lobster tails (also cold water). These were not cheap, so this is clearly a soup for special occasions or when lobsters grow on trees. I’m smiling at the thought of lobsters growing on trees. The thing I love about this recipe is how you use every part of the lobster – the meat and the shells and the dribbly juices. Makes me feel a little better about the price. Then the other main component is corn, which is dirt cheap right now and sweet as can be.
cream, wine, lobster meat, lemon, corn, celery, leek, bacon, potatoes, parsley, pepper
cut up the lobster meat
slice the green and white parts of the leeks (keep them separate)
What drew me to this recipe was the corn. I was looking around for corn recipes and this one appealed to me because lobster and corn are both sweet and seemed like a good pair. I’m not crazy for lobster the way some people are. Lobster is great and all, but my heart belongs to crab. Maybe it’s because I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay? In any case, the chowder has a number of steps to it, but they are all straightforward and quick… except for the stock which takes 40 minutes.
adding wine and water to the shells, leeks (green part), and lobster juices
while the stock simmers, strip the kernels from the cobs
dice the bacon
Strain the lobster stock twice if you can. First do a quick strain with a medium-mesh strainer to get all of the big pieces out. Then strain a second time through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure you catch all of the small particles like bits of shell or even sand.
the shells and leeks from the broth
straining through a fine-mesh sieve
I like to prep my ingredients while the stock simmers so that I’m ready to roll once the stock is ready. Another bonus part of this recipe? You only use one stock pot. After you are done straining your lobster stock, just rinse and dry the stock pot you were using and get ready to do some magic.
prepped: corn, lobster, cream, bacon, stock, celery, leeks (whites), lemon juice, parsley, potatoes
adding leeks (whites), celery, and pepper to the fried bacon
stir in the potatoes
and add the broth
Give the potatoes some time to cook until they are tender, about ten minutes. Then you get into a pattern of adding X and simmer for 3 minutes until there is nothing left to add to the soup.
in goes the corn
and some cream for… creaminess
stir in the lemon juice and parsley
The lobster stock really makes this soup. It’s heady with such depth of flavor. It smells like the sea – fresh and salty, but clean. While you will be tempted to gobble it down as soon as it is ready off the stove, I think the flavors are even better after one day of melding together in the refrigerator. So perhaps you’ll want to save some for leftovers. This is a chowder you’ll want to savor as long as you can.
serve with bread
garnish with extra lobster pieces, bacon crumbles, and parsley
now to dig in!
Lobster Corn Chowder
[print recipe]
from The Boston Globe
3 cooked whole lobsters, 1.5 lbs. each, in shells (I used 2 whole lobsters and 2 petite tails)
1 large leek, white and green parts separated, sliced
1 cup white wine
9 cups water
6 oz. thick-cut bacon, small dice
2 stalks celery, small dice
black pepper to taste
5 medium yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
3 ears corn, kernels only
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 lemon, juice of
2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped
If your lobsters are not cooked: The Maine Lobster Council has excellent instructions on how to boil or steam your lobsters.
Set a colander over a bowl and break down the lobsters. Remove the meat from the shells and let all of the juices collect in the bowl. Save the shells in the colander. Chop the lobster meat into bite-size pieces, cover, and refrigerate. In a large stock pot, place the shells, the collected juices, the green part of the leek, wine, and water over high heat. Bring the stock to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 40 minutes. Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve to remove all solids including grit or tiny bits of shell. Rinse and wipe the stock pot clean. Render the bacon for 3 minutes over medium heat. Add the white part of the leek, celery, and black pepper. Cook for 3 minutes then add the potatoes and the lobster stock. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring periodically, until the potatoes are tender. Add the corn and simmer another 3 minutes. Add the lobster and cream, and simmer for 3 more minutes. Stir in the lemon and parsley. Serves 6-8.
more goodness from the use real butter archives
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parsnip chowder |
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lobster vols-au-vent |
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ricotta gnocchi and butter-poached lobster (dc) |
September 12th, 2013 at 5:38 am
Like you, I am not a lobster fan, but I love everything else in this recipe! So…do I go for lobster, try to sub shrimp, use clam broth & add scallops at the last minute…so many things to think about. So glad you got to wear pants. We are supposed to do a big cool down tonight, and I am so excited at the thought of 50s in the morning!!
September 12th, 2013 at 6:43 am
And now I want some lobster!
September 12th, 2013 at 8:37 am
I’m curious as to who your fish monger is-Whole Foods? I’m always puzzled at where to get quality seafood in CO.
September 12th, 2013 at 8:48 am
Wow, this IS amazing! For a moment I was afraid you would go Anthony Bourdain’s route, and process the shells of the lobsters in the food processor – I could never ever do that, but he seems to think it takes lobster chowdah to another level…
Glad you proved him wrong! ;-)
September 12th, 2013 at 8:53 am
This chowder looks so good. I’ve been looking for a good seafood chowder recipe and this looks like the one, thank you so much for sharing!
September 12th, 2013 at 10:23 am
So glad to hear there are others who don’t prefer lobster. I prefer almost any other shellfish over lobster, and never really understood the hoopla.
September 12th, 2013 at 11:49 am
Jen, worried about you being in the midst of the flooding! Please let us hear from you as soon as possible. Stay safe.
September 12th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Hi Jen,
I really admire your patience in prepping and taking photos step-by-step at the same time. It’s really a labor of love. Your photos are sterling! It’s an impressive portfolio you have. That and your prose and just how refreshing your recipes are, make this one of the most exciting blogs in my daily reading list. I’m really glad for the internet! :)
September 12th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
WOW! Making this. Beautiful photos.
September 12th, 2013 at 4:22 pm
Amazing! This just made it to my dinner menu for tonight!
September 12th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Looks fabulous!! Can’t wait to try your recipe. Great photos too!!
September 12th, 2013 at 5:09 pm
This looks a lot like the seafood chowders I had on the west coast of Irealnd last year. Of course they used fish, shrimp and scallops in place of the lobster but it was totally delisous! I love lobster but might try using less of the lobster and adding something a bit less expensive.
September 12th, 2013 at 11:18 pm
OMG… looks soooo delicious. I really really need to do this. Soon, and once more at hopefully holiday dinner!
September 13th, 2013 at 4:25 am
this is so scary but good….will be making this once my husband gets a job!
thanks!
swan
September 13th, 2013 at 4:30 am
hey, btw, the knife you show in the leek shot; you must love it! can you tell me what exactly it is and its size?
thanks again,
swan
September 13th, 2013 at 4:49 am
Jenny, just heard about the awful floods in Boulder. Hope you are all safe?
September 13th, 2013 at 5:46 am
This looks fantastic! After cutting the corn off the cobs, you can add the cobs to your stock and it will intensify the corn flavor.
September 13th, 2013 at 5:55 am
Hoping you haven’t been adversely affected by the flooding!
September 13th, 2013 at 11:03 am
Just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking of you and everyone in Colorado. Wishing you high and dry with lots of love!
xo
September 13th, 2013 at 12:04 pm
I’ll try this. My little local grocery just started selling frozen lobster…
September 13th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Another loyal blog reader who feels like she “knows” you and is worried about you, Jeremy, and Kaweah amidst the rain and flooding. Hope you are ok and not affected by the flooding!
September 13th, 2013 at 5:40 pm
I’m with all the others and wondering how you are faring with the rain and flooding. I know we all hope you are safe. Looking forward to hearing from you.
September 13th, 2013 at 6:14 pm
I have a heavy, sad heart for everyone in your area. Until Sept 2012, we were 15-year part-time residents two miles outside of Estes Park on the Big Thompson River. Such devastation all along the Front Range and west into the foothills and mountains. Hope you, Jeremy and Kaweah are well and safe.
September 13th, 2013 at 7:55 pm
That looks beautiful! I’m not a lobster lover either–it’s fine but never worth the exorbitant prices to me. But I can still recognize a delicious chowder when I see it.
Cause I know you tend to eat organic I’ll note that it’s best to avoid the tomalley–PCBs and the like accumulate there (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomalley).
September 13th, 2013 at 7:57 pm
I forgot to say the most important thing, which is that I too have been worried about Coloradans and watching the news. I hope you and yours are safe and OK.
September 15th, 2013 at 7:38 am
Wow. I had planned on making the roasted corn and chipotle soup this week, so good! But this recipe will now be stuck in my brain until I try it. Looks like a winner. Hope all is well and dry, thinking good thoughts for all of CO.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:56 am
[…] lobster corn chowder. THOSE PICTURES. gah. i can taste […]
September 16th, 2013 at 5:37 pm
My thrifty New England ancestors would throw the corn cobs into the broth too. You can’t believe how much flavor they have.
September 19th, 2013 at 7:36 pm
[…] Let’s be real. I just want to wrap myself up in a cocoon and keep warm with this, this, this… oh, and this. […]
September 23rd, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Kristin – I think there is plenty of flexibility in this recipe that you can sub in whatever you like best!
Eva – :)
Shelly – yes, Whole Foods. There is another local business that carries seafood too, but I haven’t tried them out yet.
SallyBR – never heard of that method, but I’m sure it works well.
Jasline – you’re welcome!
joanne – I like it, but I LOVE crab :)
lesley – yes, we are fine. Thank you so much for your concern xo
Jasmine – you are so sweet, thank you!
kathleen – hope you like the chowder.
Chung-Ah – :)
Paula – thanks!
Karen – mmm, I personally love all combinations of seafood. Those chowders sound great!
Nami – such a treat for those at your holiday table :)
swan – not scary at all! Or you could sub in something else like shrimp or scallop? The knife is a 7-inch Shun Santoku. I love it.
Louise – yes, thank you!
Sandra – good point. I actually save all of my cobs in the freezer for making corn stock later.
Kristin – no, but thanks for checking in!
Janet – xoxo
Rocky Mountain Woman – the lobster I used was frozen too, so you’re good to go!
Fran – thank you for asking, and we are all fine. xo
Barb – we are okay! xo
GwenO – we are well, thank you. Sadly, our friends in other areas were not so fortunate.
Laurel – I didn’t know that, but thank you for the heads up on lobster tomalley! And yes, we are well. xoxo
farmerpam – ha ha, I hope you got to try the chowder! Thanks for the good thoughts xo
jeri – totally believe it! I love corn stock too!
September 26th, 2013 at 10:48 am
Looks seriously divine. Would love to be fed that, or for that matter I would LOVE to make that myself. Great post.
September 26th, 2013 at 12:52 pm
[…] Lobster corn chowder […]
October 7th, 2013 at 4:56 am
[…] 5. I’ve got my eye on this lobster chowder […]
November 17th, 2013 at 5:44 pm
[…] Lobster Corn Chowder from Use Real Butter […]
September 11th, 2015 at 1:20 am
Mmm!
September 19th, 2015 at 3:00 pm
I have a large frozen package of lobster tail meat (from Costco). Do you absolutely need to have the shells for this recipe? I’m trying to figure out what to make with this Costco impulse buy (not my impulsive buy, by the way), and a chowder sounds good.
September 19th, 2015 at 3:04 pm
Tahoe Mama – you can probably do without the shells, no biggie.