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Lobster Thermidor

Name: Lobster Thermidor
Yield: Serves 2
Cuisine: French recipes
Ingredients: 250ml milk; 3 bay leaves; ½ small onion, thickly sliced; 6 black peppercorns; 1 cooked lobster (about 750g); 45g butter; 15g plain flour; 50g shallots, finely chopped; 120ml dry white wine; 1 tsp English mustard; 1 tsp chopped fresh tarragon; 1 tsp chopped fresh chives; 1 tbsp double cream (optional); Pinch of cayenne pepper; 40g Gruyère, finely grated

Published: 30 Apr 11
Updated: 18 Mar 24

This dish gained a bad reputation during the Seventies and Eighties because it was often cooked so badly – drowned in an overpowering sea of rich, cheesy sauce. If it’s made with a just a little sauce that’s been carefully flavoured with small amounts of mustard, tarragon and Gruyère, it’s still one of the best hot lobster dishes there is.

See our grilled lobster thermidor for a lighter version of this classic dish.

A challenge
May 2011

Test kitchen approved

Serves 2
Takes 15 min to make, 10 min to cook, plus infusing time

See our grilled lobster thermidor for a lighter version of this classic dish.

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 604kcals
Fat: 38.6g (21.1g)
Protein: 40.8g
Carbohydrates: 15.1g (8g sugar)
Fibre: 0.8g
Salt: 2.2g

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Ingredients

250ml milk
3 bay leaves
½ small onion, thickly sliced
6 black peppercorns
1 cooked lobster (about 750g)
45g butter
15g plain flour
50g shallots, finely chopped
120ml dry white wine
1 tsp English mustard
1 tsp chopped fresh tarragon
1 tsp chopped fresh chives
1 tbsp double cream (optional)
Pinch of cayenne pepper
40g Gruyère, finely grated

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Method

Put the milk, bay leaves, onion and peppercorns in a small pan. Bring to the boil, then set aside for 10 minutes for the flavours to infuse.
Meanwhile, remove the meat from the cooked lobster and cut it into small, chunky pieces. Keep the tomalley (the grey-green liver) and any roe separate. Put the cleaned out half-shells in a small baking tray. Preheat the grill to high.
For the sauce, reheat the milk gently. Melt 20g of the butter in another small pan, stir in the flour and cook for a few seconds. Strain in a little of the hot milk and whisk until smooth. Gradually whisk in the rest of the milk, bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring now and then. You should be left with 200ml sauce with the consistency of thick cream.

While the sauce is simmering, melt the remaining butter in another small pan, add the shallots and cook gently until soft but not browned. Add the wine, turn up the heat and simmer rapidly until the liquid has almost disappeared. Stir in the white sauce, together with the mustard, tarragon, chives, cream (if using), cayenne pepper and 25g of the grated cheese. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
Stir the lobster meat into the sauce, with the tomalley and any roe if you wish, then divide the mixture equally between the cleaned half-shells. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese, slide under the grill, then cook for 3-4 minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve with new potatoes and a light, green salad.