11.26.2010

Lobster and Mango Cocktail


Black Friday has arrived...which always makes me sit up and take notice: the Christmas holidays are upon us. The Christmas trees have filled the lots on main street and the stores, bless them, have had their holiday decorations up since Halloween. It's that time, my friends....of good cheer, carol singing, happy children's faces and candy canes.

So, even before the turkey leftovers have disappeared, are you planning your next holiday meal? At least on paper? I am. I'm an inveterate list-maker. My Christmas list has been made for months and I'm nearly done. I like to finish early... no panic shopping for me.... so I can kick back and enjoy the sparkling tree lights, wrap gifts with care, cook with love, share egg nog with friends, help the less fortunate children among us with the Spirit of Giving Network, remembering what Christmas really means and taking time to enjoy the holiday.


I'm really looking forward to everyone's postings for the next few weeks...I just know you're all going to be chock full of great holiday ideas. I hope you can discover an idea or two here that will help with your planning as well.

Here's an elegant starter for a sit-down holiday dinner. I normally use lobster, but don't see any reason why you couldn't substitute shrimp or crab. I've never really cared for the Cognac addition (so unlike me!), but do a little taste test for yourself and  decide. I debated about using rum instead. Next time, perhaps. It has all those lovely Caribbean flavors, doesn't it?  Also, try to find a nice sweet mango. If it's unavailable where you live, you could try melon. Lots of possibilities with this appetizer.



Lobster and Mango Cocktail
From Gourmet Magazine, June 1992


Ingredients:
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons Cognac (optional)
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
four 1 1/2-pound live lobsters (I used lobster tails)
3 firm-ripe mangoes
1 cup finely diced celery
4 whole Belgian endives plus 12 leaves for garnish
3 tablespoons minced fresh chives plus 24 whole chives for garnish

Method:
In a small bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, the yogurt, the Cognac, the ketchup, the lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste and chill sauce, covered. Plunge the lobsters into a large kettle of boiling salted water and boil them, covered, for 10 minutes. Transfer the lobsters with tongs to a bowl and let them cool until they can be handled. Crack the shells, remove the meat, and cut it into 3/4-inch pieces. Transfer the lobster meat to a large bowl and chill it, covered. The lobster cocktail may be prepared up to this point 1 day in advance.

Halve the mangoes by cutting just to the sides of each pit and, using a 3/4-inch melon-ball cutter, scoop the flesh from the mango halves. (There should be about 2 cups.) To the lobster meat add the mango balls, the celery, the whole endives, trimmed and sliced thin crosswise, the minced chives, and the sauce and toss mixture until it is combined. Divide the lobster mixture among 12 chilled small glasses and garnish each serving with 1 of the endive leaves and 2 of the whole chives.
Serves 12.

52 comments:

  1. Delicious! I think this will make a lovely addition to a holiday menu. I, too, am an early shopper so that I can enjoy the season to it's fullest. No black Friday shopper am I either.

    I'm looking forward to Christmas with my blog friends too!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  2. Very elegant presentation with the endive leaves..I hope the whole holiday season is great for you!

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  3. Looks delicious, a very festive, elegant dish!

    Enjoy the holiday season!

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  4. How wonderful. I love this lobster cocktail.

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  5. Hmmm... What is a good mango substitute? I've never cared for it, for some reason.

    Today begins the holiday season for me too. In the old days, when I didn't have a desk job and was usually off today, I did my Christmas cards - or started them, anyway - today.

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  6. Look amazing and nice, I love this time!! huggs! gloria

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  7. Ooo... I love the combination! Sounds awesome delicious. I guess everyone is looking forward for X'mas now. lol! Hope you're having a wonderful day.
    kristy

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  8. I love lobstah daaaaahling, LOVE it! What a great start to a holiday meal. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
    *kisses* HH

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  9. This looks like quite an elegant appetizer, perfect for a dinner party. I like all of the different and wonderful textures.

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  10. oh my this looks so yummy!..enjoy the weekend.

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  11. I'm a big list maker too, but haven't gotten as far as and Christmas meal yet. We've not ever had our Thanksgiving meal yet. Sunday is when we could all get together. This is a beautiful appetizer. This might be the first thing on my holiday list. ;-)

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  12. I b et you have amazing celebrations.

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  13. Gorgeous dish, Barbara. I can see using this at a posh dinner as an appetizer or as a spectacular luncheon dish. Lobster and cognac go together so well, don't they... best not leave it out if you don't have to. The mango is a great surprise with the lobster... I can't wait to try it!

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  14. What a scrumptious and beautiful idea, Barbara! It feels so celebratory. :-)

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  15. gorgeous! i would never think to pair lobster and mango, but it looks awesome!

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  16. oh wow this is elegant love the season

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  17. Oh goodness Barbara, it sounds wonderful. I have so many of your recipes I want to try.
    I am quite the list maker myself and we (daughters and I) have already started the list for our Christmas dinner. The girls always love to surprise us with their cooking skills. All four of them are wonderful cooks, which makes for very uncomfortable holiday afternoons. We always stuff ourselves to the point of misery.
    I hope your Thanksgiving was lovely.
    hugs

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  18. what a fabulous combo... tropical and sophisticated!

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  19. Hi Barbara,

    I hope that you had a lovely Thanksgiving, I had hoped to have got over to visit before this.
    Yumm! how delicious lobster and mango, go so well together.

    Have a happy weekend
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  20. As we don't have Thanksgiving in Greece I have already started making plans for Christmas. This looks like a very elegant starter for the Christmas table.

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  21. hi barbara
    mango and lobster this is a perfect match !Bravo Pierre

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  22. Sounds wonderful! How could you go wrong with Lobster and mango?

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  23. That makes me want to seek out a hammock on a sunny beach! Lovely!

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  24. I am giving myself the weekend off before starting to plan Christmas meals and gifts. Still too stuffed full of turkey to think about anything clearly. This cocktail sounds delicious! What a unique combination.

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  25. I remember being invited for the holidays at a riends house within the last few years and she made something similar with shrimp. So good!

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  26. yummy! Love that, makes me feel like I am living it up! I know what liqueur I would use in this: arak!

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  27. Hey Barabara! I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Judging by the looks of this cocktail, I would imagine that you guys did:) I never mix fruit and seafood, but this does sound very healthful and refreshing. So maybe I should start...!

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  28. What a gorgeous way to begin a meal. It really will set the tone for the remainder of the dinner. I, too, am looking forward to reading what others are planning for the holidays. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Blessings...Mary

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  29. What a lovely starter, Barbara! I will copy and file this one :)

    Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and yes, on to Christmas and New Year foods!

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  30. what an interesting nosh, barbara! very classy.
    and for the record, i'd be lost without my lists. :)

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  31. A beautiful start to a holiday dinner! It's so interesting how much attention "Black Friday" has gotten. I'm just waiting for it to be declared an "official" holiday! I'm with you - I'm getting all the holiday decorations set up so I can just sit back and enjoy!

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  32. That is a beautiful appetizer or first course. Nice! It's elegant too. This is a keeper.

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  33. hi Barbara
    what a great presentation of such a wonderful dish! I would never have thought of combining mangoes with lobster, but what a great idea! I can just imagine how delicious each bite was...
    Cheers
    Dennis

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  34. Never had lobster salad...they look to die for!

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  35. Oh Barbara, this recipe reminds me of the wonderful dinner parties I would help cater years ago in Manchester-by-the-sea, Massachusetts. I worked for the loveliest couple that were very influential in their community and had lavish parties. They spared no expense and "lobsta" was always a staple. How beautiful is this recipe! And this year, due to our construction and mess in the house, no parties for us. But the twinkle of glitter on my tree, over the hearth and in my little theatre that I constructed last year has me thinking of the weeks ahead where all of us will be sharing something special for this season.

    Thank you for visiting dearest; and yes, AU NATURAL is really the best way for me to go, being a teacher and always on the run!!!

    Have a peaceful and productive SUNDAY!

    Anita

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  36. Oh my this looks amazing..filled with all my favourites.

    Thanks for sharing...your blog is the BEST! xoxoxo

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  37. It looks really delicious! I will have to substitute crab or freshwater crayfish - the lobsters I can get aren't up to much.

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  38. The mangoes and endives together sound great. Terrific recipe!

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  39. Im not only planning my holiday meal but all the bakes to be done ,plus another meal round the corner and my assigments and exams galore!
    Whew:-)))
    Im looking forward too to all the deliciousness galore here and happy hols to ya too!
    Oh this cocktail has to be so good , love the added mango and endives!
    I am having a giveaway for Christmas this time round and would sooo love for u to enter too:-)
    All the best and looking forward!

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  40. I can't believe the holidays are upon us! I'm thrilled though, and like you, I really can't wait to see all the delicious holiday creations that will be posted! Your salad looks fantastic...love the flavor of fresh mango in there!

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  41. How incredibly delicious! I love the sound of rum with these flavors!

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  42. A very elegant appetizer, I love the combination of mango and lobster here, very nice!

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  43. I've never cooked lobster, but this sounds delicious! An elegant starter for any holiday meal. :)

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  44. This has New Year's Eve written all over it. Totally glam!

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  45. This looks like such a fun and unique appetizer! Great for the holidays :)

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  46. No mango or melon at Christmas time around here! But we have the cognac. Or rum:)

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  47. I love it! Such a gorgeous recipe! Delicious flavors.

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  48. This looks incredible. I don't think we have many lobsters in Southern California this time of year, but I might try this recipe when they are back in season! (I'm somewhat obsessed with lobster, growing up on the East Coast.)

    YUM!

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  49. Of course this would knock my socks off! I might try it with canned lobster. I bet it would still be yummy. Do you think? We get fresh lobster so very rarely here - good fresh lobster, that is, and then I don't want to mess with it. Steamed with butter is about as fancy as I get. It is just so good. I would love to do your recipe for a gal's lunch of Christmas appetizer... I will have to try the canned version. I love the flavour combinations, Barbara!
    Thank you,
    :)
    Valerie

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  50. I am all done shopping but have yet to prepare my Christmas dinner menu! This looks amazing

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  51. Ooh yum, this might make it onto our Christmas menu. We are big on seafood, I'm doing a baked snapper this year, so lobster and mango would work really well. We just put up the tree today, the kids were chomping at the bit with excitement!

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  52. Gosh, Barbara, you have been so busy since I last visited your site. This is a spectacular dish, in flavor profiles and presentation. I'd love to recreate this for our New Year's Eve dinner party. WOW.

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