Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound salted butter
  • 1/4 cup fresh tarragon leaves
  • 1 lemon, zested, juiced
  • 1 mango, peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1/2 jalapeno chile, seeds and membranes removed, minced
  • 4 fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 egg yolk, at room temperature*
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon premixed wasabi
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 4 live (1 1/4-pound) lobsters

Method

  • Add 12 cups of water to a large stockpot.
  • Add salt and bring to a boil.
  • To make lemon tarragon drawn butter, melt the butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat.
  • When butter is fully melted, remove from heat and transfer to a glass measuring cup, or something similar.
  • Let stand for 3 minutes.
  • The butter should settle into 3 layers: a frothy top, a clear yellow middle, and a milky bottom.
  • Begin by skimming or spooning the froth off the top.
  • Then carefully and slowly pour out the clear middle layer into a bowl while retaining all of the white milky sediment in the cup.
  • Discard the froth and white milky solids.
  • If necessary, repeat the skimming process on the remaining butter in the cup.
  • In a small pot over medium-low heat, add clear butter, tarragon, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
  • Let simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Strain off solids and transfer butter to a serving bowl.
  • Puree all the ginger mango puree ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth.
  • To make aioli, add the garlic, egg yolk, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
  • If you do not have a blender or food processor, whisk the ingredients together in a bowl.
  • Slowly drizzle in oil with the motor running and puree until aioli thickens (should take 2 to 3 minutes).
  • Cover and refrigerate.
  • If you are using a whisk, keep beating while very gradually adding the oil until the aioli is thickthis will take several minutes.
  • To make soy-wasabi sauce, put the wasabi in a bowl and add 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce.
  • Using the back of a spoon, blend until wasabi is dissolved.
  • Add the remaining soy sauce.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Drop the live lobsters headfirst into the pot, cover tightly, and say 10 Hail Marys.
  • Boil for 8 to 10 minutes per pound (12 minutes should be perfect for 1 1/4-pound lobsters).
  • The lobsters will be a deep red color when done.
  • To double-check doneness, pull off 1 of the walking legs.
  • If it comes away easily, it is done.
  • Serve with dips.
  • Recommended beverage: White Burgundy