Griddled lobster with saffron mayo recipe

Push the boat out and impress someone special with this bistro-style griddled lobster with saffron mayo recipe. A perfect dish for a romantic meal for two, this mouth-watering meal can be ready and on the table in only 50 minutes. The rich saffron mayo really works wonders with the meaty home-cooked lobster. Serve with new potatoes and freshly prepared salad for a winning dinner. This recipe uses live lobster for traditional lobster cooking but if you'd prefer to use already prepared lobster then do so. There's no need to worry about the calorie count either as this dish works out at only 423 calories per person - great if you're trying to be good! This recipe is best made and served on the same day for the ultimate freshness and best taste.

Ingredients

• 1 live lobster, about 750g
• (1½lb), or for an alternative, see our tip
• 150g (5oz) salt, for cooking
• About 15g (½oz) softened butter
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
• Finely grated zest and juice of ¼ lemon, plus lemon wedges to serve
• Dash of fish sauce
• About 1 tbsp chopped mixed fresh herbs (flat-leaf parsley, chervil, tarragon, chives)
• Small pinch of saffron strands
• 1 medium egg yolk
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ¼-½ level tsp Dijon mustard
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 tbsp good olive oil
• New potatoes, salad and mint

Method

1. For a humane way of preparing the lobster, freeze it for a couple of hours before cooking it.
2. To make the Saffron Mayo: Put the saffron in a small bowl with 1 tsp warm water and leave it for 10 mins to infuse. Then put the egg yolk in a tall jug with the lemon juice, mustard and seasoning and add the saffron and water. Whizz it briefly with a stick blender. Add the oil, a tbsp at a time, until it thickens to a mayonnaise.
3. Bring a large pan of water (about 4.5 litres/8 pints) to the boil, add the salt and, when the water is boiling fiercely, add the lobster. Bring the water back to the boil and start timing to cook it for 5 mins. Take the lobster out of the water and leave for 10 mins or so, until you can handle it.
4. To cut the lobster in half, put it on a chopping board, drive a large knife through the middle of the body and cut down towards and between the eyes. Now turn the knife around and place it in the original cut, and bring the knife down right through the tail to split it in half. Pull off the claws and cut off the rubber bands. Crack open each of the 3 claw sections with a short, sharp chop from the thickest part of your knife blade. Remove the stomach sac, behind the mouth, and the intestine, which runs down the tail.
5. Set the grill to high. When really hot, place the lobster halves flesh-side up on the tray. Brush with the butter and sprinkle with the garlic, and grill for about 5-10 mins. Sprinkle with lemon zest, juice and a dash of fish sauce and, lastly, the herbs. Serve with potatoes, salad, mint and the Saffron Mayo.