Grilled Spiny Lobster with Garlic-Lime Butter
Local name: Grilled lobster
In short: Split spiny lobster tails brushed with garlic, lime, thyme and hot pepper butter and grilled until sweet and lightly charred. Serve with lime wedges. It takes about 32 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 32 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 250 kcal
Spiny lobster is one of the favorite catches around Saint Kitts and Nevis, and grilling is the simple way to serve it. The tails are split, brushed with garlic, lime and thyme butter and cooked over a hot fire until the meat turns white and sweet, with a little char from the shell. They are served with lime wedges, rice or breadfruit, and hot pepper sauce for those who like heat.
Instructions
- If the tails are frozen, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator. Pat them dry with paper towels.
- Stir the melted butter with the garlic, lime juice, scallion, thyme, hot pepper, salt and black pepper. Set aside half for serving.
- Cut lengthwise through the top shell of each tail with kitchen shears, stopping at the tail fan. Spread the shell open, gently lift the meat free but leave it attached at the base, and rest it on top of the shell.
- Heat the grill to medium-high, about 200°C (400°F), and oil the grates. Brush the lobster meat with some of the butter that was not set aside.
- Place the tails meat side down for 2 minutes, then turn them shell side down and brush with more of the same butter.
- Cover the grill and cook for 6 to 8 minutes more, basting once or twice, until the meat is opaque, firm and reaches 63°C (145°F).
- Serve right away with the reserved butter, warmed, for dipping, and lime wedges.
Tips
- Do not overcook. Lobster turns rubbery quickly, so check at 6 minutes and take the tails off the heat as soon as the center is opaque.
- A grill pan or the oven broiler works too. Cook the tails shell side down about 12 cm (5 inches) from the heat for 8 to 10 minutes.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between spiny lobster and Maine lobster?
Spiny lobsters, also called rock lobsters, have no large claws. All the meat is in the tail, which is firmer and slightly sweeter.
Can I use frozen lobster tails?
Yes. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and pat them very dry before seasoning. Most lobster tails sold in stores are frozen, and they grill very well.
How do I know when grilled lobster is done?
The meat turns opaque white with no translucent center, feels firm and reaches 63°C (145°F). The shell turns bright red-orange.
How long does it take to make Grilled Spiny Lobster with Garlic-Lime Butter?
About 32 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Grilled Spiny Lobster with Garlic-Lime Butter?
About 250 kcal per serving, with 26 g of protein, 2 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 250 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 26 g |
| Carbohydrates | 2 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 700 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
