
LOBSTER BLINIS
Ingredients
Serves 24
2 tbsp (30 ml) warm water, about 110 F (43 C)
1½ tsp (7 ml) granulated sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) active dry yeast
1 large egg white
¼ cup + 2 tbsp (90 ml) fine cornmeal
½ cup (125 ml) all-purpose flour
¼ tsp (1 ml) fine sea salt, plus extra for seasoning
½ cup (125 ml) warm milk, about 110 F (43 C), plus extra if needed
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter, melted
2 avocados
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
4 radishes, trimmed
3 or 4 small, cooked lobster tails, meat sliced into rounds
fresh chives, cut into 1-in (2.5 cm) lengths, for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, stir together water, sugar and yeast. Let stand, allowing yeast to bloom, about 8 to 10 minutes. If mixture does not become foamy and frothy, yeast is inactive and you need to repeat step with a new pack.
- While yeast is blooming, whisk egg white until soft peaks form.
- To yeast mixture add cornmeal, flour, salt, warm milk, butter and whipped egg white. Whisk until well combined. Cover batter with a kitchen towel and set aside for 90 minutes. Once batter has rested it should be consistency of pancake batter. If too thick, whisk in more milk, 1 tbsp (15 ml) at a time.
- Preheat a non-stick frying pan or cast iron frying pan over medium heat. Working in batches, dollop a rounded tsp (5 ml) of blini batter into pan leaving 2-in (5 cm) between each blini. Cook until bubbles break surface of blini, about 1 to 2 minutes, before turning over and continuing to cook another minute. Transfer blini to a plate and continue cooking remaining batter.
- When ready to assemble, mash avocados in a medium bowl, along with lemon juice, until a creamy mixture is achieved. Season to taste with salt. Thinly slice radishes using a mandoline or a sharp knife.
- Plate blini on a serving platter before topping with a dollop of avocado cream, a couple radish slices, a piece of lobster and a chive garnish. Serve immediately.