Lobster Strudel

To cook and shell lobsters, watch: How To Shell A Lobster.
3 lobsters produce about 450g of meat. Save bodies, tomalley and roe for sauce Américaine.

Clean and chop mushrooms such as shiitake, cremini, enoki, oyster, or best: porcini mushrooms. Mince shallots, garlic, thyme and parsley. Heat up a large skillet, add olive oil and sauté mushrooms until light brown on high heat. Add shallots, garlic and thyme and sauté for another 5 minutes on medium high. Transfer to a plate and mix in parsley and season with salt, ground black pepper and truffle oil. Cool completely.

Chicken breast can be substituted for scallops. Place breast in the freezer for 20 minutes prior processing. Cut chicken breast into pieces and turn into puree. Add the egg white, heavy cream, yolk and salt until smooth. Transfer chicken mousse to a clean bowl. Add mushroom mixture and the chopped lobster meat (pat dry meat to remove remaining moisture if previously frozen).

Superimpose 3 oiled, or buttered filo dough sheet per strudel. Use 450g of mousse per log. Roll into a tight cylinder and chill; repeat once.

Aromatic bouquet: a bay leaf, thyme, 2 parsley stems, one crushed anis star, 10 tarragon leaves, and a few white peppercorns. *For the lobster bodies, use preferably female lobster for the roe / coral. Tomalley is a soft green substance found in the lobster carapace that fulfills the function of both the liver and the pancreas. Both substances enhance flavors dramatically. Roe can be purchased online. Heat a heavy medium skillet or pot over medium high heat. Add fat, and throw in the halved lobster bodies. Sear until it begins to dry out, about 8 minutes. Pour in brandy and flambé, lower the heat until flame is gone. Add leek, shallots, garlic and olive oil. Cook for about 10 minutes and add the tomato paste; cook for another 4 minutes. Add heavy cream, tomalley, roe, the orange and its juice, ketchup, herbs. Bring to a boil and let simmer 30 minutes stirring every so often. Sieve sauce pressing firmly on solids. The sauce Américaine can be refrigerated up to 5 days. Do not freeze.

Divide lobster strudel in half. In a hot skillet, drizzle some oil, or clarified butter and sear each side for about a minute. Finish cooking in an 410ºF/210ºC oven for about 8 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 150ºF/66ºC. Let lobster strudel rest 5 minutes on a wire rack before serving. Serve with hot sauce Américaine – Enjoy!