New Year’s Eve Lobsters with Champagne Butter
Servings
4people
Servings
4people
Ingredients
  • 4 lobsterswe usually buy four 1-¼-pounders
  • 6tablespoons butter3/4 stick
  • 1tablespoon Champagneoptional—in fact, I’m not really sure what this adds except that the kids get a real kick out of it)
  • 1tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
  1. Put 2 inches of salted water in the bottom of the pot. (You want the salinity to be roughly equal to the sea.) Set a steamer rack inside and bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the live lobsters one at a time, cover the pot, and start timing (see the table below). Halfway through, lift the lid (careful—the steam is hot) and shift the lobsters around so they cook evenly. Shell the lobsters and arrange the meat on a New Year’s Eve–worthy platter, wedding china encouraged, but not required.
  2. To make Champagne butter: Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Stir in the champagne, if using, and the lemon juice. Serve in a small bowl alongside the shelled lobsters. When eating, save the best (the tail) for last.
Recipe Notes

Lobster Weight Steam Time (no matter how many are in the pot)
1 pound: 10 minutes
1-¼ pounds: 12 minutes
1-½ pounds: 14 minutes
1-¾ pounds: 16 minutes
2 pounds: 18 minutes