Some lobster sauces are Asian-inspired, based on tamari, ginger, wasabi, and other seasonings.
Well-cooked lobster can be a delicious dish to serve to friends and family on special occasions. There are many ways to prepare lobster, several of which include a sauce to accentuate the flavor of the seafood. Choosing the best lobster sauce for a particular meal largely depends on how the lobster was cooked and what flavors the cook prefers to use. The degree of difficulty in preparing the sauce can also influence the choice, depending on the cook’s skill level and time constraints. Some hosts may choose the best sauce simply by not choosing, opting to serve the lobster with several dipping sauces for each diner to choose the one that best suits their taste.
Stretched butter is traditionally used as a sauce for lobster.
Various methods of cooking lobster range from boiling or steaming it to dipping it in batter and frying it. Each method tends to suit a particular salsa style. For example, stretched butter is a traditional lobster sauce and is popularly used with various types of seafood. Most often it is combined with steamed or boiled seafood. A simple sauce made by melting butter and removing milk solids can add a light touch to a delicate dish and can stand alone or have herbs and spices added for an extra boost of flavor.
Particularly in some parts of the United States, fried and battered lobster is a popular choice and tends to be paired with sauces that are popular with other fried foods. Sauces such as honey mustard and tartar sauce can be good accompaniments to these types of dishes. Its creamy base is textured enough to withstand the heaviest fry preparation, without overpowering the flavor of the seafood.
Lobster cocktail is a similar recipe to shrimp cocktail and is usually served as an appetizer before a meal. The classic version of this dish calls for cold boiled lobster to be served along with a cocktail sauce made from a simple mixture of strong root and ketchup. Adventurous cooks can make a spicier version of the cocktail sauce or try serving this appetizer with a different lobster sauce.
Grilling a lobster is a great way to add extra flavor to the dish during the cooking process. Before grilling, the shellfish can be seasoned with herbs and spices, and the finished product can be served with a suitable lobster sauce. Some cooks may want to offer a choice of two or three sauces to accompany grilled lobster. The re-extracted butter makes a good base sauce for such a preparation, and can be paired with a more flavorful sauce, perhaps one that has a flavor found elsewhere in the meal, for contrast.
More recent culinary trends have led to an increased popularity of Asian-inspired sauces for use with lobster and other seafood. These sauces use ingredients like soy sauce and ginger to add extra flavor to the lobster meat. Asian-style sauces can be served alongside tempura or grilled lobster as an interesting alternative to a more traditional lobster sauce.