Bao-Ed Lobster In Warm Chile Butter
Bao-Ed Lobster In Warm Chile Butter
I have no loyalties when it comes to lobster rolls. If you pile sweet chunks of crustacean on a bun, I’m sold. Yet there’s something about the Connecticut style—warm, buttery lobster as opposed to the chilled mayo-coated Maine style—that gets me particularly amped. Purists, look away: I use scallion, cilantro, and Sriracha in my version. For anyone who thinks Sriracha is played out, I dare you to taste what happens when it gets mellowed with butter and brightened with lemon juice. Chinese steamed bao buns provide a slightly sweet, doughy backdrop similar to the classic split-top bun.Excerpted from the book ASIAN-AMERICAN by Dale Talde with JJ Goode. Copyright © 2015 by Dale Talde, LLC. Reprinted by permission of Grand Central Life & Style. All rights reserved.
Servings
6
Ingredients
- 6 fresh or frozen chinese buns (aka gua bao, folded buns, or steamed sandwiches)
- 1/4 pound unsalted butter, cut into several pieces
- 1/4 cup sriracha
- 1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
- 10 ounce cooked lobster meat, chopped into bite-size chunks
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon thinly sliced scallions
- 1 tablespoon loosely packed cilantro leaves
Directions
- Right before you serve, arrange the buns on a plate, cover them with damp paper towels, and microwave, flipping once, about 1 minute.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and stir in the Sriracha, chile flakes, and ½ teaspoon salt. Reduce the heat to low, add the lobster, and stir occasionally just until the lobster is hot all the way through, 1 to 2 minutes. Take the pot off the heat and stir in the lemon juice, scallions, and cilantro. Season to taste with more salt and lemon juice. Cover to keep it warm.
- Remove the buns from the parchment and put them on a plate. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the lobster meat to the bao buns, spoon on as much of the sauce as you’d like, and eat.