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The cuisines of Southeast Asia are captivating American chefs and diners today. The herbaceous aromas of Asian basil and kaffir lime, the pungency of fish sauce, the heat of chilies, the bracing quality of lemongrass and galan gal, and the soothing creaminess of coconut milk combine in numerous dishes of subtly balanced flavor. Although Homarus americanus isn’t found in those tropical waters, it marries magically with many Southeast Asian ingredients and culinary techniques.
Consider the classic Vietnamese preparation known as bun, a platter of crisp leaf lettuce topped with cool rice noodles, sliced cucumber, bean sprouts, Vietnamese herbs and hot grilled meat or seafood. The diner uses the lettuce like a wrap, adding a few morsels of each ingredient and a spoonful of dipping sauce, then folding and eating it like a taco. Now imagine this Vietnamese rice noodle salad with lobster meat on top—a variation certain to lure diners who usually shy away from exotic flavors.
Western diners invariably love crunchy Vietnamese salad rolls, also known as spring rolls. Made with rounds of rice paper wrapped around a filling—typically including bean sprouts and shrimp—they go glamorous with a lobster filling and a shower of fresh herbs and fried shallots.
Thailand’s complex coconut-milk curries, whether red, green or yellow, are a perfect foil for the sweet meat of lobster. And the hot-and-sour shrimp soup so beloved in Thai restaurants can go upscale with lobster as the star.
Ingredient affinities: fish sauce, coconut milk, lemongrass, kaffir lime, cilantro, Asian basil, mint, galangal, shallots, bird chilies, eggplant, green papaya, pineapple, banana blossom, Sriracha sauce, star anise, rice, rice noodles, bean paste, curry pastes
- Vietnamese Maine lobster spring roll
- Asian Maine lobster chowder with coconut, corn and lemongrass
- Grilled five-spice Maine lobster
- Maine lobster pad Thai
- Thai-style Maine lobster curry
- Maine lobster and green papaya salad
- Stir-fried Maine lobster with black beans, oyster sauce and Asian basil
- Banana blossom and Maine lobster salad with chopped peanuts
- Vietnamese crepes with Maine lobster
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