A lobster tail is a wonderful way to make for a special meal. Fresh lobster tails seasoned well and smothered in garlic butter is the definition of decadence. The best part is they are done is less than 30 minutes.Â
Lobster tails were one of my favorite things to eat when I wanted to eat when I was younger. For my birthday I always wanted them or crab legs. To this day I still love them for their simplicity and decadence. One of the best things about them in how flavorful they are yet easy they are to make. In 30 minutes you will have these bad boys ready to plate. One of my favorite sides is a nice lemon risotto and you have a perfect date night meal.Â
In this recipe
The best part of this recipe is its simplicity. There are very few ingredients and the majority of them are for the garlic butter. Finished with lemon juice these tails are bound to be a hit.Â
Lobster tails: you want to get them about 4-7 ounces each. These will give you the sweetest and best overall texture tails.Â
Lemon: this will help cut through all of the butter used on the tails and dipping sauce as well as add a complimentary flavor.Â
Old Bay: a little goes a long way and it is salty.Â
Garlic: use fresh garlic to really kick up the taste and the pieces will be larger to help prevent scorching.Â
Cutting the shells
One of the tasks that takes the most time is prepping the lobster tails. You will want to cut to lines down the top of the shell to allow for the meat to be removed. The way that I like to do this is to follow the stripe that goes down the tail. You will want to use kitchen shears or other very sharp scissors. Then flip the middle piece back and cut it off. You do not want to use a knife since you run a very large risk of cutting yourself.
Removing the meat
Once you have sliced open the shells you want to pull the meat partially out of the shell. You can do this by running a finger along the inside of the tail between the shell and the meat. This will allow you to pull it through the opening you made. Most of the meat will be removed with the exception of the portion that is at the end of the tail. By setting the meat on top of the shell it allows for it to cook more quickly and it is easier to eat afterwards.Â
Broiling lobster tails
Once you have sufficiently doused the lobster in butter place it into the middle of the oven. This will allow it to cook without scorching the garlic and herbs. Depending on the size of the tail you will want to keep an eye on these. They will cook in as few as 5 minutes or up to 10 if you get a 2 pound tail. This is a good time to set a time for 4 minutes and turn on your oven light. Once the timer has gone off, keep an eye on the tails to make sure they have turned opaque and have firmed up. Too long and they will become rubbery.Â
Looking for other date night recipes?
Lobster Tails with Garlic Butter
Equipment
- Cooking shears
- Sheet pan
- Pastry brush
- Small bowl
- Sauté pan optional
Ingredients
- 4 lobster tails
- ½ cup butter unsalted, melted
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon parsley fresh, chopped
- ½ tablespoon oregano fresh, chopped
- ½ tablespoon thyme fresh
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to broil or grill.
- Using the kitchen shears cut 2 lines down the top of the lobster and then remove the strip. Using your finger separate the meat from the inside of the shell and lift it through the opening. Place on a small sheet pan.
- Mix the paprika and old bay in a small bowl and sprinkle the mixture over the top of the lobster tails.
- In a bowl mix the garlic, butter, parsley, oregano, and thyme. Brush or spoon the butter mixture over the top of the lobster. You will not use all of it.
- Broil the tails for 6-10 minutes depending on the size. The tails should be opaque and firm while the shells should be bright red. Remove a serve with the remaining garlic and herb butter. Squeeze lemon juice on top of each tail.
- To infuse the butter with more flavor using a sauté pan bring the remaining butter to a boil with the herbs and garlic in it. Cook for 2 minutes and remove from the heat. Be sure to not scorch the garlic.
Nutrition
This dish is so good and tasty!
My husband and I love it so much!
Oh my, this dish is an instant favorite! This lobster tails dish looks incredibly delicious! Everything looks perfect and enticing! As my motto “When I SEA food, I always get hungry”.
How delicious! I made this last night for summer, and wow it was so good! Will definitely make this again!