Cantonese-Style Lobster with Ginger and Scallions Recipe

Name: Cantonese-Style Lobster with Ginger and Scallions Recipe
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1/4 cup Shaoxing wine or dry sherry; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1/2 cup cornstarch, divided; 1/2 cup homemade or store-bought low sodium chicken stock; 2 lobsters, preferably soft shell, about 1 1/4 pounds each; 1 quart vegetable, canola, or peanut oil; 1/2 teaspoon white pepper; 1 teaspoon salt; 2-inch knob ginger, peeled and cut into fine matchsticks; Small bunch scallions, whites finely sliced on the bias; 1 long green hot pepper, finely sliced on the bias; 12 yellow chives, cut into 2-inch pieces (optional)

Large chunks of shell-on lobster stir-fried with scallions, ginger, hot peppers, and yellow chives in a lightly seasoned sauce. It's a mess to eat, but a delicious one.

Cantonese-Style Lobster with Ginger and Scallions | The Food Lab Turbo

Active: 30 mins

Total: 30 mins

Serves: 3 to 4 servings

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1/4 cup Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 cup cornstarch, divided
1/2 cup homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock
2 lobsters, preferably soft shell, about 1 1/4 pounds each
1 quart vegetable, canola, or peanut oil
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon salt
2-inch knob ginger, peeled and cut into fine matchsticks
Small bunch scallions, whites finely sliced on the bias
1 long green hot pepper, finely sliced on the bias
12 yellow chives, cut into 2-inch pieces (optional)

Combine wine, soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon corn starch in a small bowl and mix with a fork until smooth. Stir in chicken stock. Set aside.
Add 1 inch of water to a pot or wok fitted with a steamer attachment and bring to a boil. Add lobsters and steam for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to cutting board. Allow to cool slightly.
Twist off tail and claws from lobsters. Remove guts from lobster head and rinse clean for garnish. Using a heavy chef's knife or cleaver, split tails in half lengthwise, then into thirds crosswise forming six pieces. Transfer to a large bowl. Cut both knuckles from each claw and add to bowl with tails. Remove small side of claw by breaking it off by hand and add to bowl. Cut each claw in half exposing meat and add to bowl.
Heat oil to 375°F in a large wok, adjusting heat as necessary to maintain temperature. Season lobster with salt and pepper. Add remaining cornstarch to bowl with lobster and toss until pieces are well-coated. Carefully add lobster pieces to hot oil one piece at a time until half of them have been added. Fry, agitating occasionally with a metal spider, until the cornstarch coating is crisp and pale golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer to a colander set in a bowl to drain. Repeat with remaining lobster pieces.
Pour off all but 1 tablespoon oil (save it for another use) and return wok to high heat until lightly smoking. Add ginger, scallions, hot pepper, and yellow chives (if using) and cook, stirring and tossing constantly, until fragrant and very gently softened, about 1 minute. Return lobster to pan and toss to coat. Stir up wine mixture (cornstarch may have settled to the bottom of the bowl) and add to wok. Cook, stirring and tossing constantly until mixture has bubbled and thickened, coating the lobster and vegetables. Immediately transfer to a serving platter, garnish with lobster heads, and serve.

Special equipment

wok, pot with steamer attachment

This Recipe Appears In

The Food Lab Turbo: Cantonese-Style Lobster with Ginger and Scallions

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
576	Calories
19g	Fat
18g	Carbs
76g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories	576
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g	25%
Saturated Fat 3g	16%
Cholesterol 255mg	85%
Sodium 1464mg	64%
Total Carbohydrate 18g	7%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 76g
Vitamin C 24mg	118%
Calcium 193mg	15%
Iron 5mg	25%
Potassium 722mg	15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.