Curried lobster mayonnaise rolls
Curried lobster, pickled cucumber and garlic butter fries – all stuffed into brioche rolls for a seriously decadent dinner.
Ingredients
For the pickled cucumber
- 120ml/4fl oz cider vinegar
- 80g/3oz caster sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 star anise
- 1 tsp black onion seedsÌý
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp chopped fresh dill
- 1 cucumber, seeds removed and diced
For the lobster
- 1 whole cooked lobster (about 700g/1lb 9oz), claws left whole, meat removed from the tail
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 2 brioche sub rolls, split, to serve
For the curried mayonnaise
- 100ml/3½fl oz vegetable oil, plus 1 tbsp for frying and extra if needed
- ½ banana shallot, peeled and very finely chopped
- 1 tsp mild curry powder
- 2 free-range egg yolks
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- splash white wine vinegar
- salt
For the garlic butter
- large knob butter
- 1 garlicÌýclove, minced
- freshly ground black pepper
For the fries
- 2 potatoes, peeled, cut into shoestring fries and soaked in cold water
- vegetable oil, for deep frying
Method
To make the pickled cucumber, place all of the ingredients, except the cucumber, in a saucepan with 150ml/5fl oz water. Simmer for 2–3 minutes. Leave to cool slightly, then put the cucumber in a large bowl and pour the liquid over. Chill in the fridge for at least an hour.
To make the curried mayonnaise, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a frying pan and softly fry the shallots until soft. Add the curry powder and cook for a further 2 minutes. Leave the shallot mixture to cool, then transfer to a bowl with the egg yolks, mustard, vinegar and a pinch of salt. Gradually whisk in the oil to make a mayonnaise, ensuring each drop of oil is fully incorporated before adding more.
To make the garlic butter, mix the butter and garlic together and season with salt and pepper.
To prepare the lobster, keep the claws whole and cut the lobster tail into big chunks. Heat half the garlic butter in a frying pan and gently cook the lobster for less than 1 minute, just to heat through. Add some of the dill and remove from the heat. Drain away any excess butter.
To make the fries, preheat a deep fat fryer to 180C. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.) Drain the potatoes and drop into the hot oil, cooking for 2–3 minutes until golden, then carefully remove and transfer to kitchen paper to drain. Toss the fries in the remaining garlic butter and season with salt and plenty of black pepper.
Fold the lobster tail meat into the curried mayonnaise. Fill the sub rolls with the curried lobster, with a lobster claw at one end, topped with pickled cucumber, more dill and fries (or serve the fries on the side).
