Thursday 13 September 2012

Chef Chuck Hughes wins Iron Chef with Lobster Poutine!

Quebec Chef, Chuck Hughes, won the Iron Chef competition with his lobster poutine recipe.  You may recognize him from his hit show on the food network:  Chuck's Day Off. 
“When we opened the restaurant, we had a weekly lobster dish, such as lobster pot pie, lobster risotto or General Tao lobster,” says Chuck Hughes. “But back in the kitchen the boys always used to make themselves fries with lobster gravy and cheese curds. *Voilà*—a classic was born.”
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 30 mins
Serves: 4

4 lobsters, each 1 to 1½ lb (500 to 675 g)
4 cups (1 L) lobster stock
2 Tbsp (30 mL) butter
salt and freshly ground pepper
canola or peanut oil for deep-frying
6 Yukon Gold potatoes (unpeeled), julienned
1 lb (450 g) cheese curds finely chopped chives, for garnish
  1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the lobsters for 2 minutes. Cool in ice water. Remove meat from the shell and set the lobster meat aside. (If you do this ahead of time, chill the lobster meat and use the shells for making the lobster stock.)
  2. For the gravy, reduce the lobster stock by half until it is thick enough to coat a spoon. Whisk in the butter, a spoonful at a time. Season with salt and pepper. Add the lobster meat and gently reheat it while you make the frites.
  3. For the frites, heat the oil in a deep fryer or large, deep pot to 300°F (150°C).
  4. Dunk the potatoes in the hot oil for 2 to 3 minutes to blanch them. Drain and let sit for a few minutes. Heat the same oil to 350°F (180°C). Cook the frites 2 to 3 minutes more, until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Top the frites with the cheese curds and lobster gravy. Garnish with chives.