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    Butter Poached Lobster Recipe

    Published February 2, 2023. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    This delicious poached butter lobster recipe is cooked in white wine and butter for an amazing mouthwatering seafood dish. You will be blown away by the flavors in this lobster recipe.

    I’m a huge fan of cooking and serving seafood because it’s simple to prepare and cooks in minutes. If you are similar and love it, you must try my Sicilian Swordfish or my Blackened Salmon.

    skillet of butter poached lobster


     

    Butter Poached Lobster

    Butter-poached lobster is a simple recipe consisting of fresh lobster meat cooked in butter and wine poaching liquid until cooked through. This process adds a lot of flavor and fat to lobster, making it more delicious. It’s delicious to serve the liquid alongside the cooked lobster.

    Once the lobster is done cooking, it can be eaten as is, or the entire dish, along with the poaching liquid, can be tossed with cooked and strained pasta for a delicious pasta recipe. You can also use the butter-poached lobster as a garnish to lobster bisque.  

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    ingredients to make butter poached lobster
    • Wine – I like to use sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, or chardonnay.
    • Butter – Always use unsalted butter in your cooking and baking so that you control the salt content.
    • Lobster – Any fresh, frozen, and thawed lobster meat from the tails, knuckles, or claws.

    How to Make Butter Poached Lobster

    Add the wine and butter to a small saucepan over low heat.

    melting butter with wine in a skillet

    Once the butter is melted, add the lobster meat and cook for 4 to 5 minutes over low heat. If you cook it too fast, the lobster releases a white protein substance known as pellicle, which is edible but aesthetically undesirable.

    cooking lobster in butter and wine

    Flip the lobster over and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the lobster is bright white and firm but not overcooked. Serve.

    cooked butter poached lobster

    Make-Ahead and Storage

    Make-Ahead: This butter-poached lobster is meant to be eaten as soon as it is done cooking.

    How to Store: Once the cool, cover and keep it in the poaching liquid in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. You can freeze this covered for up to 3 days. Thaw it in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.

    How to Reheat: Add the desired amount of poached lobster and the poaching liquid to a small saucepan. Heat over low heat until hot.

    Chef Billy Parisi

    Chef Notes + Tips

    • If the lobster is overcooked, it will get very chewy.
    • This is uniquely salty, so be sure to taste it first before seasoning it.

    More Seafood Recipes

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    Let's Cook - Chef Billy Parisi

    Butter Poached Lobster Recipe

    5 from 12 votes
    This delicious poached butter lobster recipe is cooked in white wine and butter for a fantastic mouthwatering seafood dish.
    Servings: 4
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes

    Ingredients 

    • ¼ cup white wine
    • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 pound uncooked lobster meat

    Instructions

    • Add the wine and butter to a small saucepan over low heat.
    • Once the butter is melted add in the lobster meat and cook over low heat for 4 to 5 minutes. If you cook it too fast the lobster releases a white protein substance known as pellicle, which is edible, but aesthetically undesirable.
    • Flip the lobster over and cook for an additional 4 to 5 minutes or until the lobster is bright white, and firm, but not overcooked.
    • Be sure to taste it first, but you can season it with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.

    Notes

    Make-Ahead: This butter-poached lobster is meant to be eaten as soon as it is done cooking.
    How to Store: Once the cool, cover and keep it in the poaching liquid in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. You can freeze this covered for up to 3 days. Thaw it in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.
    How to Reheat: Add the desired amount of poached lobster and the poaching liquid to a small saucepan. Heat over low heat until hot.
    If the lobster is overcooked, it will get very chewy.
    This is uniquely salty, so be sure to taste it first before seasoning it.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 195kcalCarbohydrates: 0.2gProtein: 19gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 174mgSodium: 482mgPotassium: 237mgSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 354IUCalcium: 99mgIron: 0.3mg
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine: French