Lobster, green asparagus & basil tartine by Olivier Perret

Canadian lobster, green asparagus, citrus and basil tartine recipe

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 Quebec lobsters (1.25 lb/1.5 lb)
• 8 beautiful green asparagus
• 150 ml of vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 lemon
• 2 oranges
• 50 ml of olive oil
• 4 nice slices of a loaf of farmhouse bread
• 1 tbsp. chives
• 1 tbsp. basil
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 French shallot or 1 half onion
• 1/2 carrot
• 1 stick of green celery
• 1 green leek (about 10 cm)
• 1 sprig of thyme
• A pinch of Espelette pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Cook the two lobsters in the boiling salted water with the carrot, shallot, celery, garlic, thyme, and leek. Once the lobsters are immersed, as soon as boiling resumes, count four minutes. Detach the claws and cook them two minutes more.
2. Put the cooked lobsters to cool in the refrigerator or under cold water.
3. Once cooled, clean lobsters and remove claws, elbows, and body.
4. Cut the body in medallions and the claws in pieces.
5. Baste with a little olive oil and season with ground pepper. Set aside.

1. Peel the asparagus.
2. Boil a good quantity of water and submerge the asparagus for 1 to 2 minutes depending on their size. Prick them with a knife to check for doneness.
3. Once cooked, plunge them into an ice water bath for two or three minutes. Take them out, drain them, and cut them in three.
4. Sprinkle with a little olive oil and season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Set aside.

1. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolk and mustard, adding the vegetable oil in a steady stream.
2. Whisk until emulsified and creamy, then add the juice of half a lemon and season with salt and Espelette pepper.

1. Slice four nice slices of country bread.
2. Toast lightly coloured. Let cool.

1. Supreme the oranges and remove the segments.
2. Set orange segments aside with excess orange juice.

1. Chop chives and basil with a knife (keep the smallest basil leaves for decoration).

1. Spread mayonnaise on each slice of bread, (all over but not too thick).
2. Arrange 4 to 6 pieces of asparagus and 4 to 6 pieces of lobster on each slice (depending on the space you have on the slice).
3. Add the orange segments, chives, and chopped basil as well as a few small basil leaves for decoration.
4. To finish, add a pinch of Espelette pepper and lemon zest.