Grilled lobster tail is the ultimate summer indulgence. It is the best of seafood turned into tender yumminess with the magic of a grill, and it’s perfected by pairing it with a butter dipping sauce.
A great meal to share with friends on a hot day, this grilled treat will soon become a favorite. When done correctly, grilled lobster is out of this world delicious, and it’s extremely simple and quick to make.
Here are the steps to follow to get perfectly grilled lobster.
Choose Your Lobster:
Choosing what type of lobster to grill is an important step. You want the most delicious grilled lobster, and, therefore, you need to select a species that will provide you with the most tender and sweet meat (and a good amount of it). Check out our guide to three of the top species of lobster that will be great for your grill (as well as different factors to keep in mind when choosing your lobster) and which one we use as the Golden Steer Steakhouse. We also go over why we prefer this lobster species above other top options.
Thaw Your Lobster:
If you’ve decided to purchase frozen lobster tails instead of fresh, be sure to take the time to thaw them the right way.
To thaw them correctly, merely keep them in your refrigerator overnight before the day you’re cooking them. If you’re in a hurry and need to thaw them quicker, put them in a ziplock bag, and then put them in a pot filled with cold water for about an hour.
Then, thoroughly pat them dry with a paper towel before cooking them. Whatever you do, don’t microwave them or put them in hot water to thaw them as you will just end up cooking them that way.
Prep Your Lobster:
To grill the two attached halves of your lobster tail, merely cut down the top of each lobster tail with kitchen shears, and then use a sharp knife to slice down the cut area - all the way through the flesh of the lobster, but not through the bottom of the shell.
Flatten each tail with your hands. Put a wooden or metal skewer through the lobster meat in each tail.
Brush each lobster tail with olive oil, and season each one with salt, pepper, and whatever other seasonings you prefer.
Grill Your Lobster:
Grilling your lobster is a quick process! First thing’s first, heat an outdoor grill or a medium grill pan to medium high heat. Then, put them flesh side down on the grill, and cook them for 5 minutes.
Flip the tails over, and grill them for another 4-5 minutes, or until the lobster meat is opaque. The color of the lobster meat is a huge indicator to whether it’s fully cooked or not. If the meat is still translucent and not opaque, it’s not done yet.
Add Clarified Butter to the Equation:
Every amazing lobster needs some just as amazing butter sauce for dipping. There are so many ways to get creative with the sauce if you want to add a little oomph to your melted butter. Here is one for the books:
Garlic Parsley Butter Dipping Sauce:
Creating the perfect dipping sauce is extremely easy. In a small bowl, place the butter, garlic, parsley, and salt, microwave it in 20 second increments until it’s melted, and stir it to combine it.
Our favorite dipping butter at the Steer comes with our lobsters, and you can get them delivered straight to your doorstep. Check out how here.
Sommelier’s Suggestions:
Pair this scrumptious grilled seafood with a white wine, such as a chardonnay or a Riesling. The lightness and floral notes of the wines go wonderfully with the natural sweetness and light flavor of the lobster meat and its buttery dipping sauce.
Conclusion:
Enjoy your masterpiece! If you so desire, further beautify your lobster by garnishing the tails with a sprinkle of parsley and serve them alongside lemon wedges.
Check out how to have our favorite fresh lobster shipped directly to your door.
For some simple lobster recipes, check out these mouthwatering lobster pairings and 4 different ways to cook lobster tails.
Photo credit: Viviana Rishe
