Potted Lobster is a traditional British recipe, based on Mrs Beeton's recipe of 1861, for a classic dish of lobster meat baked in butter with bayleaves that's transferred to ramekins, spiced and covered with clarified butter to preserve. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic British version of: Potted Lobster.
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This is a traditional British recipe redacted from the redoubtable Mrs Beeton's 1861 volume Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, the classic Victorian cookbook.
Original Recipe
278. INGREDIENTS.—2 lobsters; seasoning to taste, of nutmeg, pounded mace, white pepper, and salt; 1/4 lb. of butter, 3 or 4 bay-leaves.
Mode.—Take out the meat carefully from the shell, but do not cut it up. Put some butter at the bottom of a dish, lay in the lobster as evenly as possible, with the bay-leaves and seasoning between. Cover with butter, and bake for 3/4 hour in a gentle oven. When done, drain the whole on a sieve, and lay the pieces in potting-jars, with the seasoning about them. When cold, pour over it clarified butter, and, if very highly seasoned, it will keep some time.
Time.—3/4 hour. Average cost for this quantity, 4s. 4d.
Seasonable at any time.
Note.—Potted lobster may be used cold, or as fricassee with cream sauce.
Modern Redaction
Ingredients:
2 lobsters
nutmeg, ground mace, white pepper and salt to taste
115g butter
4 bayleaves
200g clarified butter (ghee)
Method:
Carefully remove all the meat from the lobster shell (do not chop) then place a little butter in the base of a baking dish and lay the lobster in even layers over the top, adding the bayleaves and seasonings in-between. Cover with butter then transfer to an oven pre-heated to 140°C and cook for 40 minutes.
When done, drain the lobster meat in a sieve then lay the lobster pieces in large ramekins, along with the seasonings. Set aside to cool completely. Melt the clarified butter and pour into the ramekins so that the lobster meat is completely covered.
Allow to cool then cover with clingfilm and store in the refrigerator.
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